Valerie vanished on Kangaroo Island in 2023 and was found alive 529 days later

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 IslandValerie went missing on November 13, 2023, while Gardner and Fishlock were on holidays at Stokes Bay on ...