After 529 days lost in the wild on Kangaroo Island, Australia, Valerie the miniature dachshund has finally been rescued — with a worn-out T-shirt playing a surprising starring role.
Valerie, who vanished during a camping trip in November 2023, survived against the odds in an environment teeming with predators and dense bush. Despite initial fears that she had fallen prey to snakes or giant goannas, reports of sightings months later sparked a determined search effort led by Kangala Wildlife Rescue volunteers.
Key to Valerie’s safe capture was a T-shirt soaked in her owner’s scent. Worn for 12-hour shifts and then torn into strips, it created a scent trail leading to a trap site. In the final stages, a rescuer wearing the “tatty” T-shirt sat inside an enclosure, patiently waiting for Valerie to approach. After days of careful luring and building trust, Valerie eventually snuggled into the rescuers’ laps.
Challenges during the search included bad weather disrupting surveillance cameras, competition from native wildlife, and skepticism from some online followers. Volunteers combated the island’s tough terrain with food stations, toys from home, and even a remote-controlled trapping device.
When Valerie finally entered a familiar-looking crate, she calmly curled up for a nap — signaling the end of her incredible journey. She is now decompressing and preparing to return to her owners for a quieter life back on the mainland.
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