Escaped dog in Australia is rescued after 529 days alone in the wilderness

A runaway miniature dachshund in Australia named Valerie has been found alive and well after she went missing for 529 days in the wilderness.

A runaway miniature dachshund in Australia named Valerie has been found alive and well after she went missing for 529 days in the wilderness.

Wildlife searchers announced late Friday that Valerie had been safely rescued on Kangaroo Island off South Australia. The beloved sausage dog captured international attention after she disappeared in November 2023 during a camping trip with her owners, Josh Fishlock and Georgia Gardner.

“We are absolutely thrilled and deeply relieved that Valerie is finally safe,” Kangala Wildlife Rescue said on Facebook, sparking joy and relief on social media.

The nonprofit group said its volunteers had spent more than 1,000 hours and traveled more than 3,000 miles in the search operation, which involved numerous cameras and traps.

Kangala directors Jared and Lisa Karran said the team created a scent trail using Valerie’s toys and pieces ripped off a shirt Gardner had worn for 12 hours at a time. The trail eventually lured the dog into a cage they had set up.