Heartwarming reunion: former Maitland man reunited with Valerie after 529 days in the wild
Former Maitland man Josh Fishlock and partner Georgia Gardner never thought they would get the chance to hold Valerie again when the one-year-old pup escaped from her pen in November 2023.
"We left Kangaroo Island thinking we might never see Valerie again," Josh said.
Josh, a former St Joseph's Lochinvar student and Aberglasslyn resident, moved to Albury when he was transferred with the NSW police force.
Valerie was found on April 25, miraculously fit and well after nearly 18 months on her own on the island.
The now almost three-year-old Dachshund was rescued by Kangala Wildlife Rescue, a not-for-profit wildlife rescue service.
Josh and Georgia's reunion with Valerie earlier this month is an emotional moment they'll never forget.
"Georgia sat in there first on the ground and they brought Val in and she just bolted straight up to Georgia and jumped all over her," Josh said.
"I was balling my eyes out," Georgia added.
Georgia had brought Valerie's old harness to their reunion, but said Valerie could barely fit into it anymore.
"She's in absolutely immaculate condition and she's gained 1.8 kilos of lean muscle mass," she said.
Prior to Valerie's capture, Josh and Georgia had been receiving messages of potential sightings of the Dachshund.
"It wasn't until someone was able to get a photo that we knew she was still alive," Georgia said.
Georgia said Kangala Wildlife Rescue had been absolutely vital in bringing Valerie home.
"Without them, she simply wouldn't be coming home," she said.
"They put hundreds of hours into planning and executing her safe capture, sacrificing their time, sleep, work and privacy out of genuine care and love for Valerie and us."
Since being home, Valerie has also been reunited with her fur-siblings, Lucy the rescue cat, Mason the Red Heeler, and met Dorothy, the family's newest Dachshund addition for the first time.
"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," Georgia said.
"We're also keeping her on a raw food diet, considering her incredible condition when she was found."
Josh and Georgia never planned to return to Kangaroo Island after they lost Valerie, however, Josh said they've since booked in yearly holidays.
Valerie's story of survival is a message of hope and Georgia said she hopes people can find inspiration from it.
"If the smallest sausage dog can survive 529 days in the bush, you, too, can survive whatever life throws at you," she said.
In a reunion of the ages, Valerie the Dachshund has returned to her Albury home, 540 days after going missing on South Australia's Kangaroo Island.
Former Maitland man Josh Fishlock and partner Georgia Gardner never thought they would get the chance to hold Valerie again when the one-year-old pup escaped from her pen in November 2023.
"We left Kangaroo Island thinking we might never see Valerie again," Josh said.
Josh, a former St Joseph's Lochinvar student and Aberglasslyn resident, moved to Albury when he was transferred with the NSW police force.
Valerie was found on April 25, miraculously fit and well after nearly 18 months on her own on the island.
The now almost three-year-old Dachshund was rescued by Kangala Wildlife Rescue, a not-for-profit wildlife rescue service.
Josh and Georgia's reunion with Valerie earlier this month is an emotional moment they'll never forget.
"Georgia sat in there first on the ground and they brought Val in and she just bolted straight up to Georgia and jumped all over her," Josh said.
"I was balling my eyes out," Georgia added.
Georgia had brought Valerie's old harness to their reunion, but said Valerie could barely fit into it anymore.
"She's in absolutely immaculate condition and she's gained 1.8 kilos of lean muscle mass," she said.
Prior to Valerie's capture, Josh and Georgia had been receiving messages of potential sightings of the Dachshund.
"It wasn't until someone was able to get a photo that we knew she was still alive," Georgia said.
Georgia said Kangala Wildlife Rescue had been absolutely vital in bringing Valerie home.
"Without them, she simply wouldn't be coming home," she said.
"They put hundreds of hours into planning and executing her safe capture, sacrificing their time, sleep, work and privacy out of genuine care and love for Valerie and us."
Since being home, Valerie has also been reunited with her fur-siblings, Lucy the rescue cat, Mason the Red Heeler, and met Dorothy, the family's newest Dachshund addition for the first time.
"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," Georgia said.
"We're also keeping her on a raw food diet, considering her incredible condition when she was found."
Josh and Georgia never planned to return to Kangaroo Island after they lost Valerie, however, Josh said they've since booked in yearly holidays.
Valerie's story of survival is a message of hope and Georgia said she hopes people can find inspiration from it.
"If the smallest sausage dog can survive 529 days in the bush, you, too, can survive whatever life throws at you," she said.
In a reunion of the ages, Valerie the Dachshund has returned to her Albury home, 540 days after going missing on South Australia's Kangaroo Island.
Former Maitland man Josh Fishlock and partner Georgia Gardner never thought they would get the chance to hold Valerie again when the one-year-old pup escaped from her pen in November 2023.
"We left Kangaroo Island thinking we might never see Valerie again," Josh said.
Josh, a former St Joseph's Lochinvar student and Aberglasslyn resident, moved to Albury when he was transferred with the NSW police force.
Valerie was found on April 25, miraculously fit and well after nearly 18 months on her own on the island.
The now almost three-year-old Dachshund was rescued by Kangala Wildlife Rescue, a not-for-profit wildlife rescue service.
Josh and Georgia's reunion with Valerie earlier this month is an emotional moment they'll never forget.
"Georgia sat in there first on the ground and they brought Val in and she just bolted straight up to Georgia and jumped all over her," Josh said.
"I was balling my eyes out," Georgia added.
Georgia had brought Valerie's old harness to their reunion, but said Valerie could barely fit into it anymore.
"She's in absolutely immaculate condition and she's gained 1.8 kilos of lean muscle mass," she said.
Prior to Valerie's capture, Josh and Georgia had been receiving messages of potential sightings of the Dachshund.
"It wasn't until someone was able to get a photo that we knew she was still alive," Georgia said.
Georgia said Kangala Wildlife Rescue had been absolutely vital in bringing Valerie home.
"Without them, she simply wouldn't be coming home," she said.
"They put hundreds of hours into planning and executing her safe capture, sacrificing their time, sleep, work and privacy out of genuine care and love for Valerie and us."
Since being home, Valerie has also been reunited with her fur-siblings, Lucy the rescue cat, Mason the Red Heeler, and met Dorothy, the family's newest Dachshund addition for the first time.
"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," Georgia said.
"We're also keeping her on a raw food diet, considering her incredible condition when she was found."
Josh and Georgia never planned to return to Kangaroo Island after they lost Valerie, however, Josh said they've since booked in yearly holidays.
Valerie's story of survival is a message of hope and Georgia said she hopes people can find inspiration from it.
"If the smallest sausage dog can survive 529 days in the bush, you, too, can survive whatever life throws at you," she said.
In a reunion of the ages, Valerie the Dachshund has returned to her Albury home, 540 days after going missing on South Australia's Kangaroo Island.
Former Maitland man Josh Fishlock and partner Georgia Gardner never thought they would get the chance to hold Valerie again when the one-year-old pup escaped from her pen in November 2023.
"We left Kangaroo Island thinking we might never see Valerie again," Josh said.
Josh, a former St Joseph's Lochinvar student and Aberglasslyn resident, moved to Albury when he was transferred with the NSW police force.
Valerie was found on April 25, miraculously fit and well after nearly 18 months on her own on the island.
The now almost three-year-old Dachshund was rescued by Kangala Wildlife Rescue, a not-for-profit wildlife rescue service.
Josh and Georgia's reunion with Valerie earlier this month is an emotional moment they'll never forget.
"Georgia sat in there first on the ground and they brought Val in and she just bolted straight up to Georgia and jumped all over her," Josh said.
"I was balling my eyes out," Georgia added.
Georgia had brought Valerie's old harness to their reunion, but said Valerie could barely fit into it anymore.
"She's in absolutely immaculate condition and she's gained 1.8 kilos of lean muscle mass," she said.
Prior to Valerie's capture, Josh and Georgia had been receiving messages of potential sightings of the Dachshund.
"It wasn't until someone was able to get a photo that we knew she was still alive," Georgia said.
Georgia said Kangala Wildlife Rescue had been absolutely vital in bringing Valerie home.
"Without them, she simply wouldn't be coming home," she said.
"They put hundreds of hours into planning and executing her safe capture, sacrificing their time, sleep, work and privacy out of genuine care and love for Valerie and us."
Since being home, Valerie has also been reunited with her fur-siblings, Lucy the rescue cat, Mason the Red Heeler, and met Dorothy, the family's newest Dachshund addition for the first time.
"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," Georgia said.
"We're also keeping her on a raw food diet, considering her incredible condition when she was found."
Josh and Georgia never planned to return to Kangaroo Island after they lost Valerie, however, Josh said they've since booked in yearly holidays.
Valerie's story of survival is a message of hope and Georgia said she hopes people can find inspiration from it.
"If the smallest sausage dog can survive 529 days in the bush, you, too, can survive whatever life throws at you," she said.
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The Advertiser
24-06-2025
- The Advertiser
Our pampered pets might be better off without us
Pet-keeping is often promoted for the benefits it brings humans. A close association with another animal can provide us with a sense of purpose and a daily dose of joy. It can aid our health, make us more conscientious and even help us form relationships with other humans. But the situation is perhaps not as rosy for the animal itself. Domesticated animals often live longer than their free-living counterparts, but the quality of those lives can be compromised. Pets can be fed processed foods that can lead to obesity. Many are denied a sexual life and experience of parenthood. Exercise can be limited, isolation is common and boredom must be endured. In the worst cases, pets suffer due to selective breeding practices, physical abuse and unethical commercial breeding. Is this the best life for the species we feel closest to? This question was raised for me when I heard the story of Valerie, the dachshund recaptured in April this year after almost 18 months living on her own on South Australia's Karta Pintingga/Kangaroo Island. Valerie, a miniature dachshund, escaped into the bush during a camping trip on Kangaroo Island in November 2023. After several days of searching, her bereft humans returned to their home in NSW. They assumed the tiny dog, who had lived her life as a "little princess", was gone forever. Fast-forward a year, and sightings were reported on the island of a small dog wearing a pink collar. Word spread and volunteers renewed the search. A wildlife rescue group designed a purpose-built trap, fitting it out with items from Valerie's former home. After several weeks, a remotely controlled gate clattered shut behind Valerie and she was caught. Cue great celebrations. The searchers were triumphant and the family was delighted. Social media lit up. It was a canine reenactment of one of settler Australia's enduring narratives: the lost child rescued from the hostile bush. But imagine if Valerie's story was told from a more dog-centred perspective. Valerie found herself alone in a strange place and took the opportunity to run away. She embarked on a new life in which she was responsible for herself and could exercise the intelligence inherited from her boar-hunting ancestors. No longer required to be a good girl, Valerie applied her own judgement - that notorious dachshund "stubbornness" - to evade predators, fill her stomach and pass her days. Some commentators assumed Valerie must have been fed by anonymous benefactors - reflecting a widely held view that pets have limited abilities. Veterinary experts, however, said her diet likely consisted of small birds, mammals and reptiles she killed herself - as well as roadkill, other carrion and faeces. Valerie was clearly good at life on the lam. Unlike the human competitors in the series Alone Australia, she did not waste away when left in an island wilderness. Instead, she gained 1.8 kilograms of muscle - and was so stocky she no longer fit the old harness her humans brought to collect her. She had literally outgrown her former bonds. Valerie could have sought shelter with the island's humans at any time, but chose not to. She had to be actively trapped. Once returned to her humans, she needed time to reacclimatise to life as a pet. Not all missing pets thrive in the wild. But all this raises the question of whether Valerie's rescue would be better understood as a forced return from a full life of freedom, to a diminished existence in captivity? Other examples exist which suggest an animal's best life can take place outside the constraints of being a pet. Exotic parrots have fled lives in cages to form urban flocks. In the United States, 25 species initially imported as pets have set up self-sustaining, free-living populations across 23 states. Or take the red-eared slider turtle, which is native to parts of the US and Mexico. It's illegal to keep the turtles as pets in Australia, but some of those smuggled in have later been released into urban wetlands where they have established large and widespread populations. Cats are perhaps the most notorious example of escaped pets thriving on their own in Australia. They numbers in the millions, in habitats from cities to the Simpson Desert to the Snowy Mountains, showing how little they need human assistance. One mark of their success is their prodigious size. At up to 7 kilograms, free-living cats can be more than twice the weight of the average domestic cat. Around the world, exotic former companion mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects have all established populations large enough to pose problems for other species. Of course, I am not advocating that pets be released to the wild, creating new problems. But I do believe current pet-keeping practices are due for reconsideration. A dramatic solution would be to take the animal out of the pet relationship. Social robots that look like seals and teddy bears are already available to welcome you home, mirror your emotions and offer up cuddles without the cost to other animals. A less radical option is to rethink the idea of animals as "pets" and instead see them as equals. Some people already enjoy these unforced bonds. Magpies, for example, are known to have strong allegiances with each other and are sometimes willing to extend those connections to humans in multi-species friendships. As for Valerie, she did make "her little happy sounds" when reunited with her humans. But she might look back with nostalgia to her 529 days of freedom on Kangaroo Island. Pet-keeping is often promoted for the benefits it brings humans. A close association with another animal can provide us with a sense of purpose and a daily dose of joy. It can aid our health, make us more conscientious and even help us form relationships with other humans. But the situation is perhaps not as rosy for the animal itself. Domesticated animals often live longer than their free-living counterparts, but the quality of those lives can be compromised. Pets can be fed processed foods that can lead to obesity. Many are denied a sexual life and experience of parenthood. Exercise can be limited, isolation is common and boredom must be endured. In the worst cases, pets suffer due to selective breeding practices, physical abuse and unethical commercial breeding. Is this the best life for the species we feel closest to? This question was raised for me when I heard the story of Valerie, the dachshund recaptured in April this year after almost 18 months living on her own on South Australia's Karta Pintingga/Kangaroo Island. Valerie, a miniature dachshund, escaped into the bush during a camping trip on Kangaroo Island in November 2023. After several days of searching, her bereft humans returned to their home in NSW. They assumed the tiny dog, who had lived her life as a "little princess", was gone forever. Fast-forward a year, and sightings were reported on the island of a small dog wearing a pink collar. Word spread and volunteers renewed the search. A wildlife rescue group designed a purpose-built trap, fitting it out with items from Valerie's former home. After several weeks, a remotely controlled gate clattered shut behind Valerie and she was caught. Cue great celebrations. The searchers were triumphant and the family was delighted. Social media lit up. It was a canine reenactment of one of settler Australia's enduring narratives: the lost child rescued from the hostile bush. But imagine if Valerie's story was told from a more dog-centred perspective. Valerie found herself alone in a strange place and took the opportunity to run away. She embarked on a new life in which she was responsible for herself and could exercise the intelligence inherited from her boar-hunting ancestors. No longer required to be a good girl, Valerie applied her own judgement - that notorious dachshund "stubbornness" - to evade predators, fill her stomach and pass her days. Some commentators assumed Valerie must have been fed by anonymous benefactors - reflecting a widely held view that pets have limited abilities. Veterinary experts, however, said her diet likely consisted of small birds, mammals and reptiles she killed herself - as well as roadkill, other carrion and faeces. Valerie was clearly good at life on the lam. Unlike the human competitors in the series Alone Australia, she did not waste away when left in an island wilderness. Instead, she gained 1.8 kilograms of muscle - and was so stocky she no longer fit the old harness her humans brought to collect her. She had literally outgrown her former bonds. Valerie could have sought shelter with the island's humans at any time, but chose not to. She had to be actively trapped. Once returned to her humans, she needed time to reacclimatise to life as a pet. Not all missing pets thrive in the wild. But all this raises the question of whether Valerie's rescue would be better understood as a forced return from a full life of freedom, to a diminished existence in captivity? Other examples exist which suggest an animal's best life can take place outside the constraints of being a pet. Exotic parrots have fled lives in cages to form urban flocks. In the United States, 25 species initially imported as pets have set up self-sustaining, free-living populations across 23 states. Or take the red-eared slider turtle, which is native to parts of the US and Mexico. It's illegal to keep the turtles as pets in Australia, but some of those smuggled in have later been released into urban wetlands where they have established large and widespread populations. Cats are perhaps the most notorious example of escaped pets thriving on their own in Australia. They numbers in the millions, in habitats from cities to the Simpson Desert to the Snowy Mountains, showing how little they need human assistance. One mark of their success is their prodigious size. At up to 7 kilograms, free-living cats can be more than twice the weight of the average domestic cat. Around the world, exotic former companion mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects have all established populations large enough to pose problems for other species. Of course, I am not advocating that pets be released to the wild, creating new problems. But I do believe current pet-keeping practices are due for reconsideration. A dramatic solution would be to take the animal out of the pet relationship. Social robots that look like seals and teddy bears are already available to welcome you home, mirror your emotions and offer up cuddles without the cost to other animals. A less radical option is to rethink the idea of animals as "pets" and instead see them as equals. Some people already enjoy these unforced bonds. Magpies, for example, are known to have strong allegiances with each other and are sometimes willing to extend those connections to humans in multi-species friendships. As for Valerie, she did make "her little happy sounds" when reunited with her humans. But she might look back with nostalgia to her 529 days of freedom on Kangaroo Island. Pet-keeping is often promoted for the benefits it brings humans. A close association with another animal can provide us with a sense of purpose and a daily dose of joy. It can aid our health, make us more conscientious and even help us form relationships with other humans. But the situation is perhaps not as rosy for the animal itself. Domesticated animals often live longer than their free-living counterparts, but the quality of those lives can be compromised. Pets can be fed processed foods that can lead to obesity. Many are denied a sexual life and experience of parenthood. Exercise can be limited, isolation is common and boredom must be endured. In the worst cases, pets suffer due to selective breeding practices, physical abuse and unethical commercial breeding. Is this the best life for the species we feel closest to? This question was raised for me when I heard the story of Valerie, the dachshund recaptured in April this year after almost 18 months living on her own on South Australia's Karta Pintingga/Kangaroo Island. Valerie, a miniature dachshund, escaped into the bush during a camping trip on Kangaroo Island in November 2023. After several days of searching, her bereft humans returned to their home in NSW. They assumed the tiny dog, who had lived her life as a "little princess", was gone forever. Fast-forward a year, and sightings were reported on the island of a small dog wearing a pink collar. Word spread and volunteers renewed the search. A wildlife rescue group designed a purpose-built trap, fitting it out with items from Valerie's former home. After several weeks, a remotely controlled gate clattered shut behind Valerie and she was caught. Cue great celebrations. The searchers were triumphant and the family was delighted. Social media lit up. It was a canine reenactment of one of settler Australia's enduring narratives: the lost child rescued from the hostile bush. But imagine if Valerie's story was told from a more dog-centred perspective. Valerie found herself alone in a strange place and took the opportunity to run away. She embarked on a new life in which she was responsible for herself and could exercise the intelligence inherited from her boar-hunting ancestors. No longer required to be a good girl, Valerie applied her own judgement - that notorious dachshund "stubbornness" - to evade predators, fill her stomach and pass her days. Some commentators assumed Valerie must have been fed by anonymous benefactors - reflecting a widely held view that pets have limited abilities. Veterinary experts, however, said her diet likely consisted of small birds, mammals and reptiles she killed herself - as well as roadkill, other carrion and faeces. Valerie was clearly good at life on the lam. Unlike the human competitors in the series Alone Australia, she did not waste away when left in an island wilderness. Instead, she gained 1.8 kilograms of muscle - and was so stocky she no longer fit the old harness her humans brought to collect her. She had literally outgrown her former bonds. Valerie could have sought shelter with the island's humans at any time, but chose not to. She had to be actively trapped. Once returned to her humans, she needed time to reacclimatise to life as a pet. Not all missing pets thrive in the wild. But all this raises the question of whether Valerie's rescue would be better understood as a forced return from a full life of freedom, to a diminished existence in captivity? Other examples exist which suggest an animal's best life can take place outside the constraints of being a pet. Exotic parrots have fled lives in cages to form urban flocks. In the United States, 25 species initially imported as pets have set up self-sustaining, free-living populations across 23 states. Or take the red-eared slider turtle, which is native to parts of the US and Mexico. It's illegal to keep the turtles as pets in Australia, but some of those smuggled in have later been released into urban wetlands where they have established large and widespread populations. Cats are perhaps the most notorious example of escaped pets thriving on their own in Australia. They numbers in the millions, in habitats from cities to the Simpson Desert to the Snowy Mountains, showing how little they need human assistance. One mark of their success is their prodigious size. At up to 7 kilograms, free-living cats can be more than twice the weight of the average domestic cat. Around the world, exotic former companion mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects have all established populations large enough to pose problems for other species. Of course, I am not advocating that pets be released to the wild, creating new problems. But I do believe current pet-keeping practices are due for reconsideration. A dramatic solution would be to take the animal out of the pet relationship. Social robots that look like seals and teddy bears are already available to welcome you home, mirror your emotions and offer up cuddles without the cost to other animals. A less radical option is to rethink the idea of animals as "pets" and instead see them as equals. Some people already enjoy these unforced bonds. Magpies, for example, are known to have strong allegiances with each other and are sometimes willing to extend those connections to humans in multi-species friendships. As for Valerie, she did make "her little happy sounds" when reunited with her humans. But she might look back with nostalgia to her 529 days of freedom on Kangaroo Island. Pet-keeping is often promoted for the benefits it brings humans. A close association with another animal can provide us with a sense of purpose and a daily dose of joy. It can aid our health, make us more conscientious and even help us form relationships with other humans. But the situation is perhaps not as rosy for the animal itself. Domesticated animals often live longer than their free-living counterparts, but the quality of those lives can be compromised. Pets can be fed processed foods that can lead to obesity. Many are denied a sexual life and experience of parenthood. Exercise can be limited, isolation is common and boredom must be endured. In the worst cases, pets suffer due to selective breeding practices, physical abuse and unethical commercial breeding. Is this the best life for the species we feel closest to? This question was raised for me when I heard the story of Valerie, the dachshund recaptured in April this year after almost 18 months living on her own on South Australia's Karta Pintingga/Kangaroo Island. Valerie, a miniature dachshund, escaped into the bush during a camping trip on Kangaroo Island in November 2023. After several days of searching, her bereft humans returned to their home in NSW. They assumed the tiny dog, who had lived her life as a "little princess", was gone forever. Fast-forward a year, and sightings were reported on the island of a small dog wearing a pink collar. Word spread and volunteers renewed the search. A wildlife rescue group designed a purpose-built trap, fitting it out with items from Valerie's former home. After several weeks, a remotely controlled gate clattered shut behind Valerie and she was caught. Cue great celebrations. The searchers were triumphant and the family was delighted. Social media lit up. It was a canine reenactment of one of settler Australia's enduring narratives: the lost child rescued from the hostile bush. But imagine if Valerie's story was told from a more dog-centred perspective. Valerie found herself alone in a strange place and took the opportunity to run away. She embarked on a new life in which she was responsible for herself and could exercise the intelligence inherited from her boar-hunting ancestors. No longer required to be a good girl, Valerie applied her own judgement - that notorious dachshund "stubbornness" - to evade predators, fill her stomach and pass her days. Some commentators assumed Valerie must have been fed by anonymous benefactors - reflecting a widely held view that pets have limited abilities. Veterinary experts, however, said her diet likely consisted of small birds, mammals and reptiles she killed herself - as well as roadkill, other carrion and faeces. Valerie was clearly good at life on the lam. Unlike the human competitors in the series Alone Australia, she did not waste away when left in an island wilderness. Instead, she gained 1.8 kilograms of muscle - and was so stocky she no longer fit the old harness her humans brought to collect her. She had literally outgrown her former bonds. Valerie could have sought shelter with the island's humans at any time, but chose not to. She had to be actively trapped. Once returned to her humans, she needed time to reacclimatise to life as a pet. Not all missing pets thrive in the wild. But all this raises the question of whether Valerie's rescue would be better understood as a forced return from a full life of freedom, to a diminished existence in captivity? Other examples exist which suggest an animal's best life can take place outside the constraints of being a pet. Exotic parrots have fled lives in cages to form urban flocks. In the United States, 25 species initially imported as pets have set up self-sustaining, free-living populations across 23 states. Or take the red-eared slider turtle, which is native to parts of the US and Mexico. It's illegal to keep the turtles as pets in Australia, but some of those smuggled in have later been released into urban wetlands where they have established large and widespread populations. Cats are perhaps the most notorious example of escaped pets thriving on their own in Australia. They numbers in the millions, in habitats from cities to the Simpson Desert to the Snowy Mountains, showing how little they need human assistance. One mark of their success is their prodigious size. At up to 7 kilograms, free-living cats can be more than twice the weight of the average domestic cat. Around the world, exotic former companion mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects have all established populations large enough to pose problems for other species. Of course, I am not advocating that pets be released to the wild, creating new problems. But I do believe current pet-keeping practices are due for reconsideration. A dramatic solution would be to take the animal out of the pet relationship. Social robots that look like seals and teddy bears are already available to welcome you home, mirror your emotions and offer up cuddles without the cost to other animals. A less radical option is to rethink the idea of animals as "pets" and instead see them as equals. Some people already enjoy these unforced bonds. Magpies, for example, are known to have strong allegiances with each other and are sometimes willing to extend those connections to humans in multi-species friendships. As for Valerie, she did make "her little happy sounds" when reunited with her humans. But she might look back with nostalgia to her 529 days of freedom on Kangaroo Island.
ABC News
07-06-2025
- ABC News
Don James tells of his scary encounter with a flood-stressed roo
Facebook X Reddit Pinterest WhatsApp AUGUSTA, Ga () – Operation City Clean-Up is designed to offer meaningful service opportunities for people with court ordered community service. There have been community clean ups in the past, but this will be the first consistent one in the Augusta area. It will focus on high-traffic areas such as parks, streets and vacant lots. The clean-up started in the Harrisburg corridor but they will be going around to different areas that need to be cleaned. 'We're going to move this around to every single district throughout the county. Some Saturdays we'll be out in South Richmond County, others we may be downtown, we may be over in the Turpin Hill area, it just depends on the area that needs the most help,' said Garnett L. Johnson, Mayor of Augusta. For the city clean-ups, they are offering a 2 for 1 ratio to ensure accountability and encourage participation. One of the participants of the clean-up, Syntavous Smith, says he believes it will do just that, and he is happy to be serving his community. 'He came out here and surprised us, two for one you can't beat that! Four hours and you get four extra hours, so yeah, I think it's a good purpose and a good way to get people to actually do it. We're serving the purpose of cleaning up the community and helping the community out, anything for the community.' Mayor Johnson says he is looking forward to the future clean ups, and is hoping more people join. 'What's most important is hopefully we're gaining ambassadors to tell others as they're driving along the roadways not to throw litter out on the side of the road. As I have always said, I don't see this as punishment, keeping Augusta clean and having a sense of pride where we call home is very important and I'm just glad to have these individuals that are helping today and will be helping moving forward,' said Johnson. Operation City Clean-Up will happen every Saturday from 8am-12p. Facebook X Reddit Pinterest WhatsApp
News.com.au
03-06-2025
- News.com.au
MTV: 16 & Pregnant star announces shock death of her teenage son
16 and Pregnant star Whitney Purvis' son has died at the age of 16. Weston Gosa Jr. died on Monday before his heartbroken mum posted an emotional tribute announcing the news on social media. The devastated mum, 33, said on Facebook: 'This is so hard to write. My beautiful son, Weston has passed away.' Whitney appeared on the MTV show 16 and Pregnant in 2009. She added in her post: 'Life is so cruel and unfair. I just don't understand. 'Oh my baby is gone and I don't know what to do with myself.' She added: 'He was so perfect.' Whitney did not reveal his cause of death. The grieving mum said that she was in disbelief and could not believe that this was happening. She said: 'I love you so much, Weston Owen Gosa. God, I love you so much. 'You are my heart. I was so proud of the young man you were becoming. I just can't go on without you. 'Rest in Peace, my angel. You are gone too soon.' Weston's stepmum Amy Gosa provided some more information of the teenager's tragic passing. She explained that the teen was found at 7am unresponsive, and that she was unable to wake him up. Amy said on Facebook: 'He was not breathing, we attempted CPR and called an ambulance. 'The paramedics attempted it as well and took him to the hospital in Gordon County [Georgia] where he was pronounced dead.' She also noted that the star's child has suffered from 'several health issues', including diabetes. Weston had also been diagnosed with a genetic disorder called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency - which can cause lung and liver damage. But the heartbroken family are still waiting on an autopsy to determine Weston's exact cause of death. Weston was born during the first season of MTV's 16 and Pregnant, to Whitney's boyfriend at the time, Weston Lewis Gosa.
