For anyone who has ever lost a beloved pet, Valerie’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Against all odds, this miniature dachshund endured 529 days in the wild on Kangaroo Island, a remote stretch of southern Australia, before finally being reunited with her owners.
Her survival story is nothing short of extraordinary and a reminder of the resilience of animals and the unbreakable bond between pets and their families.
A Dog’s Disappearance on Kangaroo Island
Valerie’s journey began in November 2023 during a camping trip with her owners, Georgia Gardner and Joshua Fishlock. Just moments after being placed in a playpen, the tiny dog darted into the dense bushland and vanished.
The couple searched frantically, posting online pleas, leaving behind clothes and toys with her scent, and switching her Apple AirTag into lost mode. But Kangaroo Island is vast, over 4,400 square kilometers of wilderness, and sparsely populated. With few Bluetooth devices to detect her tag and no sightings, the trail quickly went cold.
“Leaving the island was probably the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Fishlock later recalled. “We went over as three and came back as two. It was a horrible feeling.”
Living on Hope and Heartbreak
For weeks, then months, there was silence. Gardner and Fishlock imagined comforting scenarios; perhaps Valerie had been taken in by a kind farmer, or maybe she was curled up in someone’s home, safe and fed. But as time passed, grief began to settle in.
Still, they clung to hope. “For anyone who’s ever lost a pet, your feelings are valid,” Gardner wrote later. “Never give up hope.”
The First Signs of Survival
Seventeen months later, in early 2025, came a breakthrough. Locals spotted a small black-and-tan dog darting through fields. A pink collar gleamed in the distance; the same one Valerie had been wearing when she disappeared.
The reports reached Kangala Wildlife Rescue, a group more accustomed to helping kangaroos and koalas than dachshunds. But once they saw the photos, they knew: Valerie was alive!
The Marathon Rescue Effort
What followed was a rescue mission unlike any other. Volunteers spent more than 1,000 hours and drove over 5,000 kilometers tracking Valerie. They set cameras, placed traps, and experimented with lures ranging from roast chicken to Valerie’s favorite toys.
Early attempts failed. Instead of Valerie, they caught possums, wallabies, feral cats, and even kangaroos that poked their heads into traps. But the rescue team refused to give up.
Finally, they devised a larger pen equipped with cameras and a remote-controlled door. Inside, they laid blankets, food, and most importantly, one of Gardner’s worn t-shirts to create a familiar scent trail.
Slowly, Valerie began returning to the site. Each night, she edged closer, lingering longer. Then one evening, she stepped fully inside. When she settled in the back corner, calm at last, the team pressed the button. The door clicked shut, and after 529 days, Valerie was safe.
Tears of Relief and Joy
“It was surreal,” remembered rescuer Lisa Karran. “You could hear her barking before we even reached the trap. Then she climbed into our laps and fell asleep. Our hearts just broke; we knew she never wanted to be out there another minute.”
To keep Valerie calm, Karran even wore fragments of Gardner’s clothing, helping ease the dog’s fear. After a quick vet check, the results were astonishing: Valerie was healthy, strong, and even a bit heavier. “She’s got the physique of a little bodybuilder,” Karran laughed.
Back Home Where She Belongs
Today, Valerie is back with Gardner and Fishlock, nestled on couches and showering her owners with kisses. Despite her ordeal, she slipped easily back into her old life, playing with toys, cuddling in bed, and strutting proudly on walks.
“She’s come back more independent,” Gardner observed. “She’s still attached to us, but stronger and more on her own.”
For Gardner and Fishlock, the reunion was a dream come true. “Sometimes good things happen to good people,” Gardner posted after the rescue.
The Lessons of Valerie’s Story
How did a 10-pound dog with short legs survive 17 months in such a harsh landscape? Dachshunds, originally bred to burrow into tough terrain while hunting, have always carried a reputation for tenacity and spirit far greater than their size. Valerie embodied that heritage, enduring heat, predators, and isolation with a strength few would expect from a 10-pound dog.
Rescuers speculate that Valerie drank from farm water sources, sheltered in burrows, and may have scavenged food. More than survival, though, Valerie’s saga shows the power of persistence, community, and the enduring bond between pets and their families.
As Karran put it: “If it was your dog, wouldn’t you want someone to do the best they could? We should all come together and try.”
And for anyone still grieving a lost pet, Valerie’s story offers hope. “If a tiny, little four-kilo sausage dog can survive on Kangaroo Island,” Gardner said, “then you too can survive whatever you’re going through.”
