Experts ‘amazed’ at survival of Valerie the miniature dachshund – on the run on South Australian island for more than a year

New Posts

  • #81
TootsieFootsie said:

Kangaroo Island rescuers Kangala Wildlife Rescue share story of how Valerie the missing sausage dog was found on Kangaroo Island​


First look at little Valerie after her incredible KI rescue



View attachment 582176
Click to expand...
She's so little and cute and brave 🥹

I'm convinced there is a secret life of pets! After spending almost half her life in the wild, I hope her crazy puppy adventure days are behind her now. Valerie and her cat bestie probably have a lot to talk about.
 
  • #82
We had a dachshund Maxie in the family, when I lived in Australia, a black miniature like Valerie. They are so adventurous. We lived in a house with the bush behind us. So often he'd escape in there for hours, sometimes a day or two, and come back stinking to high heaven. They love rolling around in smelly stuff, and digging. Once he came back with a goanna in his mouth, practically bigger than him. Goanna was ok though fortunately, he dropped it in front of us, like a gift.
I so loved that mischievous little dog.
 
  • #83
One of the articles behind a paywall says she has some scars.
I thought it looked like she had a couple.

Brave Valerie.
 
  • #84
The behind the paywall one which I now can't find said that vets had checked her out.
They mentioned her scars and that she was thinner than she should be, and in their opinion she wouldn't have lasted much longer.
 
  • #85
TootsieFootsie said:
Video of Valerie barking while wearing her new harness. At the 20 second mark.

The rescuers think that wildlife may have groomed Valerie which kept her coat in good condition :)

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
Click to expand...

I wish I could read those wild animals' minds taking care of a dog!
 
  • #86
Update from a day ago. A bit longer than the one I saw yesterday

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

5.38 min video
 
  • #87
They mentioned there were feral cats on the island and that maybe because Valerie had a cat friend at home that used to groom her, maybe she let the feral cats look after her. :)
 
  • #88
www.smithsonianmag.com

Valerie the Miniature Dachshund Has Been Rescued After Surviving for 529 Days on a Rugged Australian Island

The eight-pound pup is now decompressing after her epic adventure in the wilderness, a feat rescuers say was "just incredible"
www.smithsonianmag.com www.smithsonianmag.com

For now, the organization is giving Valerie some time to decompress from her epic adventure. She is likely suffering from “lost dog syndrome,” a temporary state of stress and disorientation some pups experience from being in survival mode after getting separated from their families. Because of that, she probably wouldn’t have responded if her human parents had been there and called her.

Now, Gardner and Fishlock are scheduled to arrive on Kangaroo Island within about a week to take Valerie home.
 
  • #89
 
  • #90
www.perthnow.com.au

Valerie settles into domesticated life waiting for owners

New video footage has been shared of Valerie the dachshund adorably wriggling around in her bed and playing with her old toys after surviving solo in the Kangaroo Island wilderness for 500 days.
www.perthnow.com.au www.perthnow.com.au

Valerie the Dachshund turns from feral survivor to playful puppy as she settles into domesticated life​


New video footage has been shared of Valerie the dachshund wriggling around in her bed and playing with her old toys after surviving solo in the Kangaroo Island wilderness for 500 days.
 
  • #91
www.cbsnews.com

Pause for paws: Hundreds of dachshunds chase record in Hungary

Hundreds of dachshunds gathered in Hungary to try and break a world record. They may not have made it, but they were very cute.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com

Pause for paws: Hundreds of dachshunds chase record in Hungary​


I posted it on news that makes you smile before I read that it has a mention of Valerie


"And in other dachshund news, a miniature dachshund was recently found alive and well after spending 529 days lost in the Australian wilderness, BBC reported. Valerie went missing while on a camping trip to Kangaroo Island with her owners in late 2023. The search for Valerie involved more than 1,000 volunteer hours and more than 3,100 miles traveled, according to Kangala Wildlife Rescue.


"Having had the privilege of spending time with Valerie we can tell you she deserves all the love she is receiving from around the world, she is truly a once in a lifetime dog and we are humbled that we could be a small part of her life," Kangala Wildlife Rescue said on Facebook.
 
  • #92
Last edited:
  • #93
www.abc.net.au

Missing sausage dog reunited with 'euphoric' owners after 540 days

A sausage dog that captivated the world after disappearing on a South Australian island for a year-and-a-half has been reunited with her "euphoric" owners. Her owners made the trip from their New South Wales home to Kangaroo Island where they were emotionally reunited.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au

Boat and car ride to home​

Valerie is now preparing to leave the island and embark on a more than 1,000-kilometre journey, by boat and car, to her Albury home.

At home, she will be reunited with her "fur-siblings" — cat Lucy and red heeler Mason — and meet the family's new dachshund, Dorothy, for the first time.

Ms Gardner said they are also working with a dog behaviourist to support Valerie to "transition back to home life"
 
  • #94
  • #95
1746600319370.webp

Those eyes look like she's been through a lot.
 
  • #96
  • #97

9News

Owners reunited with sausage dog after 529 days missing on Kangaroo Island​

The reunion was emotional.

"I bawled my eyes out when she came running up to me. She came up and she licked me straight in the face and I was like oh god," Gardner said.
 
  • #98
9News 2.19 minute video

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
 
  • #99
Off topic. But I just found this little short animation.
Perhaps a relative of Valerie :)

1.03 minute video

Long Steven . Rain

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
 
  • #100
You must log in or register to reply here.

Staff online

Members online

... and 141 more.
Total: 3,034 (members: 142, guests: 2,892)

Online statistics

Members online
142
Guests online
2,892
Total visitors
3,034
Totals may include hidden visitors.

Forum statistics

Threads
632,671
Messages
18,630,181
Members
243,245
Latest member
noseyisa01
Back
Top