Valerie the dachshund reunited with owners after Kangaroo Island rescue
A missing sausage dog that captivated the world after she disappeared on a South Australian island for a year-and-a-half has been reunited with her "euphoric" family.
Valerie the dachshund escaped from a Kangaroo Island campground while on holiday with her owners, Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock, in November 2023.
After an island-wide hunt, numerous reported sightings, and "round-the-clock" search and rescue efforts by Kangala Wildlife Rescue,
Ms Gardner and Mr Fishlock made the trip from their home in Albury, NSW, to Kangaroo Island yesterday where they were emotionally reunited for the first time after 540 days apart.
Josh Fishlock and Georgia Gardner with Valerie after 540 days apart.
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Supplied: Kangala Wildlife Rescue
)
"I was sitting on the ground when [rescue owners] Lisa and Jared brought Valerie in, and she ran straight up to me — I just burst into tears," Ms Gardner said.
"
She was wagging her tail, making her little happy sounds, and wiggling around with joy.
"
Mr Fishlock also expressed his relief at finally laying eyes on Valerie, adding that the moment still did not feel real after so long apart.
"It was incredible — euphoric — we never thought we'd hold her again, and then suddenly, there she was," he said.
Josh Fishlock says he still could not believe Valerie was found.
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Supplied: Kangala Wildlife Rescue/Georgia Gardner
)
The pair brought Valerie's old harness with them to the island but soon found out she could barely fit into it.
"She's stockier now, strong and healthy … healthier than we are, honestly," Ms Gardner said.
'Welcome here anytime'
The almost three-year-old dachshund has been cared for by Kangala Wildlife Rescue since her rescue 11 days ago.
Her successful capture came after weeks of extensive searching which spanned thousands of kilometres and involved sophisticated cameras and trap set-ups.
Kangala directors and rescue volunteers Jared and Lisa Karran said they felt they had built a "deep connection" with Valerie after all of their efforts.
"We felt like we came to know Valerie through the camera," Mr Karran said.
"But when we met her in person, she was just so much smaller than we imagined.
"If it was a miracle before that she'd survived, seeing her size, it's just unbelievable that she was able to survive and thrive out there."
Jared Karran (second from right) says the rescue team have formed a bond with Valerie.
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Supplied: Kangala Wildlife Rescue
)
Mr Karran admitted that while the entire rescue team was thrilled to see the trio reunited, saying goodbye to the sausage dog would not be easy.
He said those feelings were amplified by Valerie being a "special dog" and the "emotional" efforts that went into bringing her home.
"It's going to be hard to say goodbye to Valerie, but we know that she'll be so well cared for and loved with Georgia and Josh," Mr Karran said.
"
And if she ever feels like a Kangaroo Island getaway, she's welcome here anytime.
"
Valerie survived months in the wilderness.
(
Supplied: Georgia Gardner/Kangala Wildlife Rescue
)
Ms Gardner expressed her gratitude to Kangala for their efforts in successfully bringing Valerie home.
"Without them, she simply wouldn't be coming home … words cannot describe how extremely grateful we are for their work and dedication," she said.
Boat and car ride to home
Valerie is now preparing to leave the island and embark on a more than 1,000-kilometre journey, by boat and car, to her Albury home.
At home, she will be reunited with her "fur-siblings" — cat Lucy and red heeler Mason — and meet the family's new dachshund, Dorothy, for the first time.
Ms Gardner said they are also working with a dog behaviourist to support Valerie to "transition back to home life".
Valerie was lost on Kangaroo Island for 529 days before being rescued.
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Supplied: Facebook
)
"Valerie's separation anxiety played a big role in why she went missing, so we'll be crate training her to provide a safe place to decompress," she said.
She also had a final message of hope for anyone who has lost a pet or might be going through a challenging time.
"If the smallest sausage dog can survive 529 days in the bush, you, too, can survive whatever life throws at you,"
Ms Gardner said.
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