For 529 days, Valerie, the miniature dachshund, lived away from her family on Kangaroo Island after she went missing during a holiday. Georgia Gardner and Joshua Fishlock were staying at Stokes Bay with their one-year-old dog when they realised she was no longer at their campsite on November 13, 2023. They searched for her with help from locals and wildlife rescuers, but the months that followed brought little certainty. Then, about 450 days after she went missing, a photograph provided the first clear evidence that Valerie was still alive.The video Kangala Wildlife Rescue posted on Facebook in October 2025 showed her moving through the island, giving rescuers a chance to understand where she travelled and how she behaved. They began monitoring her with trail cameras and placed traps with familiar bedding, toys, and food. Valerie approached them but remained cautious. Eventually, after 529 days, rescuers caught her. She had grown stronger and more independent and now seemed nervous around people who wanted to take her home.
How did Valerie survive 529 days alone on Kangaroo Island
Valerie went missing on November 13, 2023, while Gardner and Fishlock were on holidays at Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island. The couple had taken their one-year-old miniature dachshund with them when they went for a swim. When they returned, Valerie was no longer at the campsite. They began looking for her straight away, and residents and wildlife rescuers joined the search. Despite their efforts, they could not confirm where she was for many months. There were reports of possible sightings, but none gave the team enough certainty to find her. Around 450 days after Valerie went missing, a photograph finally provided something more useful. It showed the small black-and-tan dog alive and moving through the island. Lisa Karran, who became involved in the rescue, said the photograph ‘pretty much sparked the entire search’. It gave the team a starting point for following Valerie’s movements.
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Trail cameras helped rescuers understand where Valerie was moving
Once the photograph confirmed that Valerie was still alive, rescuers changed their approach. Rather than searching across the island without knowing where she might be, they could focus on the places she regularly visited. Trail cameras helped them observe Valerie without disturbing her. The footage showed how carefully she approached people and equipment. Rescuers then placed traps along routes she used, adding bedding and toys from her former life as a pet. Valerie would investigate the traps but often stopped before entering them. That made the rescue a slow process. The team had to understand her behaviour and work around it rather than rush her. Each new camera recording helped them refine the plan. Over time, their patience paid off, and the team eventually created the right conditions to bring Valerie close enough to capture safely.
How did Valerie survive and adapt to life outdoors for 529 days
After 529 days outdoors, Valerie looked different from the small dog her owners had last seen. ABC News reported that rescuers found her fit and well when they finally caught her. She had also become stronger and more muscular after spending so long living outside. Her behaviour had changed as well. Valerie had never slept outdoors before her disappearance, yet she had learned to manage life away from people. She was now cautious around humans and showed the independence she had developed during her time on the island. For the rescuers, finally seeing Valerie after watching her through cameras for months was an important moment.
Valerie returned to her family after 529 days but still needed time to settle
Valerie was finally reunited with Gardner and Fishlock after 529 days. Finding her brought enormous relief, although taking her home was not the end of the process. Valerie had spent more than a year living independently, so her owners expected her return to domestic life to take time. They also intended to introduce her gradually to other familiar animals, including another dachshund. The rescuers who had followed Valerie’s journey had also grown close to her. Her owners could now focus on helping her feel safe and comfortable in the life she had left behind.