21-05-2025
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.
