Experts ‘amazed’ at survival of Valerie the miniature dachshund – on the run on South Australian island for more than a year

[whiterhino]

Kangaroo Island rescuers Kangala Wildlife Rescue share story of how Valerie the missing sausage dog was found on Kangaroo Island​

First look at little Valerie after her incredible KI rescue

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/kangaroo-island-rescuers-kangala-wildlife-rescue-share-story-of-how-valerie-the-missing-sausage-dog-was-found-on-kangaroo-island/news-story/3fe37381413d31665ba150e12187e61c?amp

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She's so little and cute and brave

I'm convinced there is a secret life of pets! After spending almost half her life in the wild, I hope her crazy puppy adventure days are behind her now. Valerie and her cat bestie probably have a lot to talk about.

 

[whitelilac]

We had a dachshund Maxie in the family, when I lived in Australia, a black miniature like Valerie. They are so adventurous. We lived in a house with the bush behind us. So often he'd escape in there for hours, sometimes a day or two, and come back stinking to high heaven. They love rolling around in smelly stuff, and digging. Once he came back with a goanna in his mouth, practically bigger than him. Goanna was ok though fortunately, he dropped it in front of us, like a gift.
I so loved that mischievous little dog.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

One of the articles behind a paywall says she has some scars.
I thought it looked like she had a couple.

Brave Valerie.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

The behind the paywall one which I now can't find said that vets had checked her out.
They mentioned her scars and that she was thinner than she should be, and in their opinion she wouldn't have lasted much longer.

 

[LadyL]

Video of Valerie barking while wearing her new harness. At the 20 second mark.

The rescuers think that wildlife may have groomed Valerie which kept her coat in good condition

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7497941553000795410

I wish I could read those wild animals' minds taking care of a dog!

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Update from a day ago. A bit longer than the one I saw yesterday

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7497907405251087634

5.38 min video

 

[TootsieFootsie]

They mentioned there were feral cats on the island and that maybe because Valerie had a cat friend at home that used to groom her, maybe she let the feral cats look after her.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Valerie the Miniature Dachshund Has Been Rescued After Surviving for 529 Days on a Rugged Australian Island

The eight-pound pup is now decompressing after her epic adventure in the wilderness, a feat rescuers say was "just incredible"

www.smithsonianmag.com

For now, the organization is giving Valerie some time to decompress from her epic adventure. She is likely suffering from “lost dog syndrome,” a temporary state of stress and disorientation some pups experience from being in survival mode after getting separated from their families. Because of that, she probably wouldn’t have responded if her human parents had been there and called her.

Now, Gardner and Fishlock are scheduled to arrive on Kangaroo Island within about a week to take Valerie home.

 

[LittleSeaTree]

Kangaroo Island rescuers Kangala Wildlife Rescue share story of how Valerie the missing sausage dog was found on Kangaroo Island​

First look at little Valerie after her incredible KI rescue

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/kangaroo-island-rescuers-kangala-wildlife-rescue-share-story-of-how-valerie-the-missing-sausage-dog-was-found-on-kangaroo-island/news-story/3fe37381413d31665ba150e12187e61c?amp

View attachment 582176

That face. That nose. Doesn’t get much sweeter!