Introduction to Valerie’s Story
In November 2023, young couple Josh and Georgia were enjoying a camping trip on the picturesque Kangaroo Island, just off the coast of South Australia. Along for the trip was their adorable miniature Dachshund named Valerie. Their relaxing holiday took a tragic turn when Valerie managed to escape her pen while her owners were at the nearby beach, and despite the valiant efforts of fellow campers, she disappeared into the wilderness. A devastated Josh and Georgia stayed on the island searching for their beloved pup as long as they could, but they eventually had to admit defeat, returning home to mourn the loss of Valerie, now presumed deceased.
The Miraculous Survival of Valerie
However, there have been numerous sightings of the wayward wiener dog by locals and visitors, and thanks to the wildlife cameras from Kangala Wildlife Rescue, a local not-for-profit animal charity, we now have footage, less than 2 weeks old, showing a remarkably healthy-looking Valerie.
Valerie’s survival after 16 months of fending for herself is something of a miracle. Despite the lack of predators on the island, few could have predicted that this tiny dog of less than 9 lbs would have been able to survive in the wild; but survive she has, for more than 16 months. There has been speculation over how she has been able to maintain what appears to be quite a healthy weight, with some suggesting that locals and tourists may have been leaving food down for the lost pup, while others believe she may have been relying on her primitive instincts for hunting and foraging.
Valerie’s Possible Means of Survival
This might seem laughable when considering the pampered little sausage dogs we know today, but it wasn’t all that long ago that the Dachshund was an able hunting dog, sent down tunnels in pursuit of badgers.
Of course, a dog of Valerie’s size would be no match for a badger, not that there are any to be found on Kangaroo Island, of course. She may well be using her instincts to flush out some small mammals, as well as taking advantage of any roadkill that invariably occurs in an area shared by humans and wildlife. Whatever the case, she has obviously been eating something!
