Latest news with #KangalaWildlifeRescue
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Heartwarming reunion: former Maitland man reunited with Valerie after 529 days in the wild
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. 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.
The Advertiser
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
It's home sweet home for global star Valerie, the 'best feeling in the world'
When Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock reunited with their beloved dachshund after 540 days, it was only fitting what song they wanted to listen to first. The sounds of Amy Winehouse's Valerie played through the speakers of their car as they left South Australia's Kangaroo Island earlier this month, now as a trio. During a camping trip on the island in November 2023, Valerie the sausage dog escaped her pen, spending 529 days in bushland before being captured by Kangala Wildlife Rescue, directed by Jared and Lisa Karran. They were brought back together on Tuesday, May 6, and the pooch has now settled into her home comfortably on the Vic/NSW border at Lavington. "It's just the best feeling in the world, especially that first night when we just lay down and had her in bed, it was just pure content and happiness," Miss Gardner said. "I was like, I don't have anything to stress about anymore because even in the year, your mind would wander like, 'I wonder where she is now and just to have her home, it's just wonderful." When Valerie went missing during their first camping trip with her, the couple were living in Broken Hill before moving to Lavington. During her disappearance, Miss Gardner and Mr Fishlock got another dachshund, Dorothy. "They were a bit jealous of each other to start with, but now they're best friends, they're just like two sisters," Mr Fishlock said. Miss Gardner never gave up hope that she was still out there. "I couldn't deal thinking of the fact that she was dead," she said. "It was just way too upsetting for me, so we kind of always thought, like we always had hope we'd get her back, but it was always in the picture of, maybe a nan or someone's looking after her who doesn't have Facebook and then she'll take her to the vet's one day and we'll get a call." Holding onto her old toys also helped in the search, as Miss Gardner sent them down to Kangala Wildlife Rescue as a familiar scent to lure the dachshund to a set-up trap. One of her worn T-shirts was also torn up and used around the area where Valerie was sighted on wildlife cameras to encourage her into the enclosure. Valerie will be turning three in June and now weighs 5.8 kilograms. She weighed four kilograms when she disappeared. Since returning home, the pair has noticed Valerie has less separation anxiety than she once did and has become more independent. "It's Valerie's world and we're living in it!" Miss Gardner said with a laugh. Introducing Valerie back into domestic life has been easier than expected, also with help from Kangala Wildlife Rescue, who supported her during her first week of recovery while waiting for the couple's arrival. Her disappearance has also led to a change in dog food for the pooch, now eating raw food to accommodate her time in "survival mode" on the island. Valerie's survival in the wild captured the nation's attention and gained global media coverage. The pair is grateful for the efforts of Kangala Wildlife Rescue in finding Valerie. The rescue had to find innovative ways to lure her to them, due to wildlife, including possums, interfering with their plans and also pressure received from the general public. "Everyone was learning, they hadn't done a rescue like this before," Mr Fishlock said. She was found about 15 kilometres away in a custom-designed enclosure from where she first escaped her pen at Stokes Bay. Having to leave Kangaroo Island after days of searching for the dog is a pain Miss Gardner "wouldn't wish on anyone". "We were checking into the ferry and they were like 'oh just two adults and a dog' and I was like, 'no dog' and just started crying," she said. The couple has had messages sent to them about how Valerie's journey has brought joy to many people. "Our main thing is we hope this brings a lot of happiness and joy to people in a time when a lot of people are struggling," Mr Fishlock said. A return to Kangaroo Island isn't off the table, as the rescue organisation's owners hope to see Valerie again. When Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock reunited with their beloved dachshund after 540 days, it was only fitting what song they wanted to listen to first. The sounds of Amy Winehouse's Valerie played through the speakers of their car as they left South Australia's Kangaroo Island earlier this month, now as a trio. During a camping trip on the island in November 2023, Valerie the sausage dog escaped her pen, spending 529 days in bushland before being captured by Kangala Wildlife Rescue, directed by Jared and Lisa Karran. They were brought back together on Tuesday, May 6, and the pooch has now settled into her home comfortably on the Vic/NSW border at Lavington. "It's just the best feeling in the world, especially that first night when we just lay down and had her in bed, it was just pure content and happiness," Miss Gardner said. "I was like, I don't have anything to stress about anymore because even in the year, your mind would wander like, 'I wonder where she is now and just to have her home, it's just wonderful." When Valerie went missing during their first camping trip with her, the couple were living in Broken Hill before moving to Lavington. During her disappearance, Miss Gardner and Mr Fishlock got another dachshund, Dorothy. "They were a bit jealous of each other to start with, but now they're best friends, they're just like two sisters," Mr Fishlock said. Miss Gardner never gave up hope that she was still out there. "I couldn't deal thinking of the fact that she was dead," she said. "It was just way too upsetting for me, so we kind of always thought, like we always had hope we'd get her back, but it was always in the picture of, maybe a nan or someone's looking after her who doesn't have Facebook and then she'll take her to the vet's one day and we'll get a call." Holding onto her old toys also helped in the search, as Miss Gardner sent them down to Kangala Wildlife Rescue as a familiar scent to lure the dachshund to a set-up trap. One of her worn T-shirts was also torn up and used around the area where Valerie was sighted on wildlife cameras to encourage her into the enclosure. Valerie will be turning three in June and now weighs 5.8 kilograms. She weighed four kilograms when she disappeared. Since returning home, the pair has noticed Valerie has less separation anxiety than she once did and has become more independent. "It's Valerie's world and we're living in it!" Miss Gardner said with a laugh. Introducing Valerie back into domestic life has been easier than expected, also with help from Kangala Wildlife Rescue, who supported her during her first week of recovery while waiting for the couple's arrival. Her disappearance has also led to a change in dog food for the pooch, now eating raw food to accommodate her time in "survival mode" on the island. Valerie's survival in the wild captured the nation's attention and gained global media coverage. The pair is grateful for the efforts of Kangala Wildlife Rescue in finding Valerie. The rescue had to find innovative ways to lure her to them, due to wildlife, including possums, interfering with their plans and also pressure received from the general public. "Everyone was learning, they hadn't done a rescue like this before," Mr Fishlock said. She was found about 15 kilometres away in a custom-designed enclosure from where she first escaped her pen at Stokes Bay. Having to leave Kangaroo Island after days of searching for the dog is a pain Miss Gardner "wouldn't wish on anyone". "We were checking into the ferry and they were like 'oh just two adults and a dog' and I was like, 'no dog' and just started crying," she said. The couple has had messages sent to them about how Valerie's journey has brought joy to many people. "Our main thing is we hope this brings a lot of happiness and joy to people in a time when a lot of people are struggling," Mr Fishlock said. A return to Kangaroo Island isn't off the table, as the rescue organisation's owners hope to see Valerie again. When Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock reunited with their beloved dachshund after 540 days, it was only fitting what song they wanted to listen to first. The sounds of Amy Winehouse's Valerie played through the speakers of their car as they left South Australia's Kangaroo Island earlier this month, now as a trio. During a camping trip on the island in November 2023, Valerie the sausage dog escaped her pen, spending 529 days in bushland before being captured by Kangala Wildlife Rescue, directed by Jared and Lisa Karran. They were brought back together on Tuesday, May 6, and the pooch has now settled into her home comfortably on the Vic/NSW border at Lavington. "It's just the best feeling in the world, especially that first night when we just lay down and had her in bed, it was just pure content and happiness," Miss Gardner said. "I was like, I don't have anything to stress about anymore because even in the year, your mind would wander like, 'I wonder where she is now and just to have her home, it's just wonderful." When Valerie went missing during their first camping trip with her, the couple were living in Broken Hill before moving to Lavington. During her disappearance, Miss Gardner and Mr Fishlock got another dachshund, Dorothy. "They were a bit jealous of each other to start with, but now they're best friends, they're just like two sisters," Mr Fishlock said. Miss Gardner never gave up hope that she was still out there. "I couldn't deal thinking of the fact that she was dead," she said. "It was just way too upsetting for me, so we kind of always thought, like we always had hope we'd get her back, but it was always in the picture of, maybe a nan or someone's looking after her who doesn't have Facebook and then she'll take her to the vet's one day and we'll get a call." Holding onto her old toys also helped in the search, as Miss Gardner sent them down to Kangala Wildlife Rescue as a familiar scent to lure the dachshund to a set-up trap. One of her worn T-shirts was also torn up and used around the area where Valerie was sighted on wildlife cameras to encourage her into the enclosure. Valerie will be turning three in June and now weighs 5.8 kilograms. She weighed four kilograms when she disappeared. Since returning home, the pair has noticed Valerie has less separation anxiety than she once did and has become more independent. "It's Valerie's world and we're living in it!" Miss Gardner said with a laugh. Introducing Valerie back into domestic life has been easier than expected, also with help from Kangala Wildlife Rescue, who supported her during her first week of recovery while waiting for the couple's arrival. Her disappearance has also led to a change in dog food for the pooch, now eating raw food to accommodate her time in "survival mode" on the island. Valerie's survival in the wild captured the nation's attention and gained global media coverage. The pair is grateful for the efforts of Kangala Wildlife Rescue in finding Valerie. The rescue had to find innovative ways to lure her to them, due to wildlife, including possums, interfering with their plans and also pressure received from the general public. "Everyone was learning, they hadn't done a rescue like this before," Mr Fishlock said. She was found about 15 kilometres away in a custom-designed enclosure from where she first escaped her pen at Stokes Bay. Having to leave Kangaroo Island after days of searching for the dog is a pain Miss Gardner "wouldn't wish on anyone". "We were checking into the ferry and they were like 'oh just two adults and a dog' and I was like, 'no dog' and just started crying," she said. The couple has had messages sent to them about how Valerie's journey has brought joy to many people. "Our main thing is we hope this brings a lot of happiness and joy to people in a time when a lot of people are struggling," Mr Fishlock said. A return to Kangaroo Island isn't off the table, as the rescue organisation's owners hope to see Valerie again. When Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock reunited with their beloved dachshund after 540 days, it was only fitting what song they wanted to listen to first. The sounds of Amy Winehouse's Valerie played through the speakers of their car as they left South Australia's Kangaroo Island earlier this month, now as a trio. During a camping trip on the island in November 2023, Valerie the sausage dog escaped her pen, spending 529 days in bushland before being captured by Kangala Wildlife Rescue, directed by Jared and Lisa Karran. They were brought back together on Tuesday, May 6, and the pooch has now settled into her home comfortably on the Vic/NSW border at Lavington. "It's just the best feeling in the world, especially that first night when we just lay down and had her in bed, it was just pure content and happiness," Miss Gardner said. "I was like, I don't have anything to stress about anymore because even in the year, your mind would wander like, 'I wonder where she is now and just to have her home, it's just wonderful." When Valerie went missing during their first camping trip with her, the couple were living in Broken Hill before moving to Lavington. During her disappearance, Miss Gardner and Mr Fishlock got another dachshund, Dorothy. "They were a bit jealous of each other to start with, but now they're best friends, they're just like two sisters," Mr Fishlock said. Miss Gardner never gave up hope that she was still out there. "I couldn't deal thinking of the fact that she was dead," she said. "It was just way too upsetting for me, so we kind of always thought, like we always had hope we'd get her back, but it was always in the picture of, maybe a nan or someone's looking after her who doesn't have Facebook and then she'll take her to the vet's one day and we'll get a call." Holding onto her old toys also helped in the search, as Miss Gardner sent them down to Kangala Wildlife Rescue as a familiar scent to lure the dachshund to a set-up trap. One of her worn T-shirts was also torn up and used around the area where Valerie was sighted on wildlife cameras to encourage her into the enclosure. Valerie will be turning three in June and now weighs 5.8 kilograms. She weighed four kilograms when she disappeared. Since returning home, the pair has noticed Valerie has less separation anxiety than she once did and has become more independent. "It's Valerie's world and we're living in it!" Miss Gardner said with a laugh. Introducing Valerie back into domestic life has been easier than expected, also with help from Kangala Wildlife Rescue, who supported her during her first week of recovery while waiting for the couple's arrival. Her disappearance has also led to a change in dog food for the pooch, now eating raw food to accommodate her time in "survival mode" on the island. Valerie's survival in the wild captured the nation's attention and gained global media coverage. The pair is grateful for the efforts of Kangala Wildlife Rescue in finding Valerie. The rescue had to find innovative ways to lure her to them, due to wildlife, including possums, interfering with their plans and also pressure received from the general public. "Everyone was learning, they hadn't done a rescue like this before," Mr Fishlock said. She was found about 15 kilometres away in a custom-designed enclosure from where she first escaped her pen at Stokes Bay. Having to leave Kangaroo Island after days of searching for the dog is a pain Miss Gardner "wouldn't wish on anyone". "We were checking into the ferry and they were like 'oh just two adults and a dog' and I was like, 'no dog' and just started crying," she said. The couple has had messages sent to them about how Valerie's journey has brought joy to many people. "Our main thing is we hope this brings a lot of happiness and joy to people in a time when a lot of people are struggling," Mr Fishlock said. A return to Kangaroo Island isn't off the table, as the rescue organisation's owners hope to see Valerie again.
Epoch Times
12-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Miniature Dachshund Reunited With Its Owner After 18 Months Lost on Australian Island
MELBOURNE, Australia—Valerie, a miniature dachshund lost for 18 months—or around half her life—on an Australian island, has been reunited with her owners, her rescuers said Wednesday. Owner Georgia Gardner said her pet approached without hesitation when they were reunited by Kangala Wildlife Rescue on Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia state on Tuesday for the first time since November 2023. 'She ran straight up to me—I just burst into tears,' Gardner said in a statement released on Wednesday. 'She was wagging her tail, making her little happy sounds and wiggling around with joy. I held her and cried and cried,' Gardner added. The almost 3-year-old Valerie was trapped on April 25 in remarkably good condition after 529 days spent living like a feral animal. Valerie had weighted 9 pounds when she was lost and now weighs 15 pounds. There is speculation that she survived on road kill and animal droppings. Gardner and her partner, Josh Fishlock, had been holidaying on the island and were away from their campsite fishing when their pet escaped from a pen. The couple searched but eventually had to return to the mainland without her. Related Stories 5/6/2025 5/4/2025 Volunteers from Kangala Wildlife Rescue, a not-for-profit service, spotted the distinctive addition to the Australian wilderness in March. She was captured after volunteers spent an estimated 1,000 hours searching while covering 3,000 miles of the island. Having seen video camera images of the dog sniffing a trap last month, Kangala Wildlife Rescue director Jared Karran said he was surprised by how small she was in reality. 'If it was a miracle that she's survived—seeing her size—it's just unbelievable that she was able to survive and thrive out there,' Karran said. Gardner and Fishlock will drive Valerie back to their home in Albury in New South Wales state. Garner said she had been working with a dog behaviorist to help Valerie transition to home life. Valerie will be kept on a raw food diet 'considering her incredible condition when she was found,' Gardner said. In Albury, Valerie will be reunited with rescue cat Lucy and cattle dog Mason. She will also be introduced to her owners' new dachshund, Dorothy. By Rod Mcguirk
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mini dachshund that survived 18 months on a remote island is joyfully reunited with her owners
A beloved family member has come home in the form of Valerie, a miniature dachshund lost for 18 months — more than half her 3-year-old life — on a remote Australian island. Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock, Valerie's owners, had been vacationing on the island when they left Valerie in a pen for a little while as they ventured away from their campsite to go fishing. When they returned, the pet had gone missing, and despite extensive searching, they eventually had to return to the mainland without her. Despite over 500 days living life as a feral animal, Valerie recognized Gardner 'immediately' when she saw her. 'She ran straight up to me — I just burst into tears,' Gardner told the media earlier this week. 'She was wagging her tail, making her little happy sounds and wiggling around with joy. I held her and cried and cried.' Fishlock said the moment didn't feel real to him after so long apart. 'It was incredible — euphoric — we never thought we'd hold her again, and then suddenly, there she was,' he said. Valerie had weighed 9 pounds when she was lost — and came home weighing 15 pounds. Veterinarians speculate that she feasted on roadkill and animal droppings to survive. Kangala Wildlife Rescue nonprofit volunteers spotted the tiny black-and-brown dog in the middle of Kangaroo Island's wilderness earlier in the year. After approximately 1,000 hours of combing 3,000 miles of the island, they finally trapped her and took her home in April . After watching her through video footage and scouting the wilderness for her, the volunteers said they felt they had crafted a 'deep connection' with Valerie. 'We felt like we came to know Valerie through the camera,' said Kangala Wildlife Rescue Director Jared Karran. '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.' 'If she ever feels like a Kangaroo Island getaway, she's welcome here anytime,' he added. Gardner and Fishlock have taken Valerie back to their home in New South Wales, Australia. They plan to keep Valerie on a raw food diet after seeing how well she fared on Kangaroo Island, and Gardner is working with a dog behaviorist to help Valerie transition back to domesticated life. 'If the smallest sausage dog can survive 529 days in the bush, you, too, can survive whatever life throws at you,' said Gardner.
New York Post
07-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Miniature dachshund reunited with her owner after being lost for 18 months on remote island
Valerie, a miniature dachshund lost for 18 months — or around half her life — on an Australian island, has been reunited with her owners, her rescuers said Wednesday. Owner Georgia Gardner said her pet approached without hesitation when they were reunited by Kangala Wildlife Rescue on Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia state on Tuesday for the first time since November 2023. 'She ran straight up to me — I just burst into tears,' Gardner said in a statement released on Wednesday. 8 Valerie, a miniature dachshund lost for 18 months on an Australian island, has been reunited with her owners, her rescuers said Wednesday. AP 8 Owner Georgia Gardner said her pet approached without hesitation when they were reunited by Kangala Wildlife Rescue on Kangaroo Island for the first time since November 2023. Kangala Wildlife Rescue / facebook 'She was wagging her tail, making her little happy sounds, and wiggling around with joy. I held her and cried and cried,' Gardner added. The almost 3-year-old Valerie was trapped on April 25 in remarkably good condition after 529 days spent living like a feral animal. Valerie had weighed 4 kilograms (9 pounds) when she was lost and now weighs 6.8 kilograms (15 pounds). There is speculation that she survived on roadkill and animal droppings. Gardner and her partner, Josh Fishlock, had been holidaying on the island and were away from their campsite fishing when their pet escaped from a pen. The couple searched but eventually had to return to the mainland without her. 8 Gardner and her partner, Josh Fishlock, had been holidaying on the island and were away from their campsite fishing when their dog escaped from a pen. Kangala Wildlife Rescue / facebook 8 There is speculation that she survived on roadkill and animal droppings. Kangala Wildlife Rescue / facebook 8 The small dog was captured after volunteers from Kangala Wildlife Rescue spent an estimated 1,000 hours searching while covering 3,000 miles of the island. Franca/Wirestock Creators – Volunteers from Kangala Wildlife Rescue, a not-for-profit service, spotted the distinctive addition to the Australian wilderness in March. She was captured after volunteers spent an estimated 1,000 hours searching while covering 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles) of the island. Having seen video camera images of the dog sniffing a trap last month, Kangala Wildlife Rescue director Jared Karran said he was surprised by how small she was in reality. 8 'If it was a miracle that she's survived — seeing her size — it's just unbelievable that she was able to survive and thrive out there,' Kangala Wildlife Rescue director Jared Karran said. Kangala Wildlife Rescue / facebook 8 Gardner and Fishlock will drive Valerie back to their home in Albury, New South Wales. AP 8 'She was wagging her tail, making her little happy sounds, and wiggling around with joy. I held her and cried and cried,' Gardner said. Kangala Wildlife Rescue / facebook 'If it was a miracle that she's survived — seeing her size — it's just unbelievable that she was able to survive and thrive out there,' Karran said. Gardner and Fishlock will drive Valerie back to their home in Albury, New South Wales. Garner said she had been working with a dog behaviorist to help Valerie transition to home life. Valerie will be kept on a raw food diet, 'considering her incredible condition when she was found,' Gardner said. In Albury, Valerie will be reunited with rescue cat Lucy and cattle dog Mason. She will also be introduced to her owners' new dachshund, Dorothy.
