Valerie, a miniature dachshund, disappeared from a Kangaroo Island campsite in November 2023. Rescuers captured her after 529 days away, and she reunited with her owners 540 days after she went missing. Later reporting described her settling into domestic life, but the available accounts do not establish a formal behavioural or veterinary assessment of her adjustment.
How long was Valerie missing?
Valerie vanished on 13 November 2023 while her owners, Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock, were holidaying at Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island. They left her in a playpen while they went fishing nearby; ABC reported that their fishing spot was about 200 metres away. ABC News Australia’s October 2025 retrospective recounts the disappearance and the search that followed.
| Milestone | What the interval means |
|---|---|
| 25 April 2025: captured after 529 days | Time from her disappearance to her capture, as reported by ABC News Australia on 26 April 2025. |
| 7 May 2025: reunited after 540 days apart | Time from her disappearance to her reunion with her owners, as reported by ABC News Australia on 7 May 2025. |
The two counts mark different events, not conflicting estimates: Valerie was captured before she was reunited with her family.
How did rescuers find and capture her?
Reports and sightings accumulated during the search, but a photograph of a small black-and-tan dog running across a paddock around day 450 gave the owners and rescuers stronger confirmation that Valerie was alive. It helped focus the effort to bring her in, according to ABC’s retrospective.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- Includes a squeaker for additional interest
- Made of non-toxic, pet-safe materials and colors
- Great for interactive play
- Offered in assorted fun colors
Kangala Wildlife Rescue used cameras and a remotely operated trap. The team prepared it with food and familiar items and scents. ABC reported that the rescue involved more than 1,000 volunteer hours and roughly 5,000 kilometres travelled. Those are the reported scale of the effort, not a measure of time Valerie spent in the trap or a guarantee that one particular technique alone led to her capture. ABC’s capture report said she was safely caught and “fit and well.”
What is known about her survival?
Although headlines sometimes called Valerie “feral,” that describes the circumstances of a domestic dog living outside; it is not a veterinary diagnosis. Rescuers and locals thought she may have found food such as skinks, mice and roadkill, and benefited from cover and hiding places. These were explanations offered in reporting, not a verified record of what she ate or how she spent each day. ABC’s report on her capture and its later account do not establish the precise details of her survival.
Rank #2
- This plush is approx. 4" x 9" x 5" in size
- Made from deluxe materials for a cloud-like softness!
- This light and fluffy Dachshund plush makes for a great cuddling partner
- Mini Flopsies are designed to lay resting on its belly for easy, fun play
- To ensure stability and quality, this plush contains bean pellets suitable for all ages
What was Valerie like after rescue?
In a short clip shared by Kangala Wildlife Rescue, Valerie wriggled in her bed and played with familiar toys while in the rescue’s care. PerthNow reported the footage on 1 May 2025. It offers a glimpse of play, not a formal assessment of her health or wellbeing. PerthNow’s report describes the clip.
At the reunion, Gardner said Valerie was “wagging her tail, making her little happy sounds, and wiggling around with joy,” as reported by ABC News Australia. That was her owner’s account of an emotional meeting, rather than a clinical evaluation.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- 【Anxiety Relief】WEOK heartbeat puppy toy which is a simulation of the true pulsing heartbeat enables the puppy to feel the comfort. It can help puppies and cats to relief the separation anxiety, loneliness, go through the tough time and adapt the new home or other complex environment. Important tips for heartbeat device: Press and hold the switch long enough, it works; Press and hold the switch long enough, it stops.
- 【Crate Training Toy & Sleep Aid Toy】When the time comes for crate training, cuddling with WEOK heartbeat buddy will help reduce negative behaviors, such as whining and barking,which means you will get more sleep at night. It is a good behavioral training aid toy which could comfort your puppies.
- 【Suitable for all kinds of dogs and cats】Whether an older rescue dog or a new puppy, the WEOK Heartbeat Puppy Toys help your special pup through the tough times with comforting calmness from a warm, cuddly friend with a heartbeat can ease their fears and offer general anxiety relief. This heartbeat stuffed animal helps your dog find the peace and relaxation they need.
- 【Best Gift for Pet & Comfort Toy for Puppy】The WEOK plush toy with heartbeat simulate is suitable for all puppies, small, medium, large dogs, cats, helps pets reduce anxiety, tension, loneliness, behavior training, insomnia aid, soothes dogs and more, and it is a great dog birthday or festival gift.
- 【Perfect buddy for our new puppy】The WEOK heart beat dog toy for puppy can help dogs not bark, howling and make noise when they are alone, with the company of heartbeat stuffed animal toy to make dogs adapt to their kennels or dog bed, reduce the dog's sticky behavior and sleep aid at night, let the dog sleep well.
How did she adjust to life at home?
Immediately after the reunion, Gardner and Fishlock said they were working with a dog behaviourist and planned to use crate training to give Valerie a safe place to decompress. Wildlife rescuer Lisa Karran described the transition as a matter of “wanting to get this dog switching off of fight or flight,” a fragment from a longer statement quoted in ABC’s October 2025 retrospective. The remark conveys the concern behind a careful transition; it does not establish a diagnosis of trauma or separation anxiety.
Later in 2025, ABC reported that Valerie had settled into domestic life surprisingly well. The feature described her reuniting with Mason, the family’s red heeler, and Lucy, their cat, and getting acquainted with Dorothy, a dachshund the family had acquired after Valerie went missing. These are reported observations from that period, not evidence about her present-day health or behaviour.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 2-in-1 Puzzle & Dog Toy: Combines a plush toy with an interactive hide-and-seek puzzle that engages hunting instincts and prey drive
- 3 Squeaky Squirrels: Small tree trunk (4.5" x 4.7" x 4.7") holds three squeaky squirrels for pups to find and tug out
- Soft & Snuggly: Plush material and cozy stuffing make it perfect for cuddling, carrying, and gentle play
- Boredom Buster: Encourages problem-solving and offers enrichment for hours of fun
- Play It Safe: No toy is indestructible. Do not leave toys with unsupervised pets. Remove and replace if damaged.
Rank #4
- Unique Sound: Hollypet Armadillo Squeak Toys (except 6 inch) make a sound that's not high pitched, but rather a unique and funny grunt sound that your furry friend will love. Unlike noisy bones, ropes, or other normal stuffed plush dog toys
- Eye Catching Design: Shaped like a cute armadillo, our stuffing dog toy come in multiple colors, allowing you to choose the one that best matches your pet's personality. This dog toy is specially designed for puppy, small and medium dogs. It isn't suitable for extreme strong or aggressive dog chewers
- Durable and Long Lasting: Made from premium soft materials, our cute plush dog toys can withstand rough play for indoor or outdoor and last for years to come. The textured surface also helps massage and soothe your dog's gums during playtime
- Active Play, Tossing, and Retrieving: Our cute Armadillo chew toys for dogs can be used for bonding with your puppy, reducing stress or separation anxiety
- Customer Satisfaction: While no toy is indestructible, we stand by our product. If the toys are damaged within a month, contact us for a replacement. Please supervise your pet during play and ensure they do not ingest the toys
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
