After more than a year fending for herself in the rugged wilderness of Kangaroo Island in Australia, a tenacious mini dachshund named Valerie is finally headed home.
Australian wildlife officials announced Friday that they’d successfully captured the small (but surprisingly resilient) pup, ending a 16-month ordeal that started when she vanished during a family camping trip in late 2023. Valerie had darted off while her owners were setting up camp on the island, which sits off the coast of South Australia near Adelaide.
Wildlife officials believe she scavenged and may have even hunted small prey, defying expectations for a dog bred more for companionship than survival.
“She’s a miniature dachshund—we really didn’t think we’d ever see her again,” said one official involved in the rescue effort. “But somehow, she adapted. It’s incredible.”
Despite occasional sightings over the months, Valerie remained elusive—too skittish to approach, and quick to disappear into the dense terrain. But persistence paid off. Wildlife officers finally managed to humanely trap her, and a video of the capture shows her peeking out of a crate, seemingly cautious but healthy.
The reunion with her owners is expected soon, and veterinary staff have already begun assessing her condition.
Valerie’s story has captivated many online, with commenters applauding her grit and determination. Some have even dubbed her “the Bear Grylls of dachshunds.”
From a vanished pet to a survival legend, Valerie’s journey is a remarkable reminder of just how strong the instinct to survive—and return home—can be, even in the smallest of packages.
