'This sausage dog who terrorised Kangaroo Island for 500 days is my niche area of obsession.'

Around 112 kilometres off the southern coast of South Australia lies Kangaroo Island, the jewel of the Great Australian Bight. Renowned for its breathtaking beauty and extraordinary diversity, the island is largely wild and untouched. 

The 500 kilometres of dramatic coastline are fringed by rugged cliffs, sweeping bays, secluded coves, and some of Australia's most pristine beaches. It's also home to a gamut of wildlife, including venomous Black Tiger and Pygmy Copperhead snakes, the 1.5 metre Rosenberg goanna, feral cats, and even sea lions. 

But here, in this distant isle of kangaroos and echidnas, a very non-indigenous animal managed to thrive after escaping from her owners for over a year. What is it? 

Well it's Valerie, the ferocious pet sausage dog.

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A timeline of events.

In November 2023, Valerie was the happy companion of her human parents Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock, as they attempted a camping trip on Kangaroo Island.

What began as a 'family getaway', soon became every pet owner's worst nightmare. 

Valerie, the miniature dachshund, had panicked and escaped her pen at Stokes Bay, on the island's north coast, disappearing into dense bushland. 

The devastated couple searched for their little sausage dog for five days, alongside help from locals, but there was no sign of Valerie. 

Brokenhearted, the couple returned to the Australian mainland fearing that they had seen the last of their pampered pet, who "never left [Georgia's] side" and was "not a very outside, rough-and-tough dog," per The Guardian.

For a whole year, Josh and Georgia were completely in the dark on what had happened to Valerie. Perhaps she'd been bitten by a snake, snatched by a goanna, or simply been unable to keep herself hydrated? 

The constant thinking was fruitless and painful. However, in early 2025, nearly a whole year since she'd gone missing, a sausage dog with a pink collar was sighted 14 kilometres from where Valerie first vanished. 

Wildlife cameras throughout the area confirmed what Josh and Georgia could have never dreamed to hope for: their little Valerie was alive and thriving in the bush.

She's survived all odds, becoming some kind of avid exploring sausage dog in the wilds of Kangaroo Island. 

And if that's not the most bizarre yet adorable thing you've ever heard, then I don't know what is. 

Valerie has been missing for 16 months. Image: Kangala Rescue

Valerie's survival has amazed experts and her family alike. At under 4kg, she's managed to evade eagles, snakes, and the harsh Australian elements.

Wildlife rescuers suspect she survived on dam water and a diet of roadkill and native animals—resources surprisingly abundant on the island.

Her small size, speed, and sharp instincts have likely helped her avoid predators and human rescuers alike, making her a survivor, but also an elusive target.

You see, until her capture, it seemed Valerie either did not know how to come home, or was wilfully avoiding it. 

Local resident and animal lover Louise Custance told The Guardian that Valerie probably "decided that she didn't want to go back to the city. She liked the island lifestyle, and she's probably had some support from farm animals or wildlife to stay alive… to find water."

She's been painted as both a cheeky little rascal and an unhinged feral animal in media reports.

The search for Valerie was long and hard, with many traps set around the region to capture her. 

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Early attempts to catch her with food-lured cages failed — Valerie would nibble at the bait but never trigger the trap, and she'd bolt at the first sign of people or vehicles.

Part of the issue was rescuers couldn't set any traps that could hold her in place due to the risk of accidentally capturing local wildlife instead.

Recognising her intelligence and skittishness, rescuers transformed a trap into a comforting space, filling it with her favourite toys, her mum's clothing, and familiar scents. This "little room" helped Valerie build confidence, and she started regularly visiting the site.

Sometimes she would disappear for up to six days, but she would always return.

To outsmart their clever quarry, the team developed a remote-controlled trap system. Using mobile phone alerts, rescuers hoped to close the trap at exactly the right moment, finally bringing Valerie home.

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As someone with two sausage dogs myself, I just know that Valerie was both brave and ferocious during her time on the run. 

Dachshunds, which originated in Germany as far back as the 15th century, were bred to hunt badgers and other burrowing animals, often which were the same size or larger than them. 

For this reason, they were designed to be brave, tenacious and willing to confront animals larger and more dangerous than themselves. This would explain why my youngest sausage, Fergus, feels he can confront Great Danes in the park with absolutely zero fear. 

Sausage dogs, while cuddly at home, are independent, stubborn and wary of strangers, making them very suited to evading escape, and choosing survival over submission to the elements or unknown humans. 

Image: Kangala Wildlife Rescue.

The Kangala Wildlife Rescue team and its volunteers poured countless hours into rescue efforts.

The tiny sausage dog was finally captured on April 25. Remarkably, Valerie was found in excellent condition despite her extended adventure in the wild. The almost three-year-old pup was rescued by the team at Kangala Wildlife Rescue, who provided round-the-clock care before the emotional reunion with her owners Georgia Gardner and partner Josh Fishlock on Tuesday, May 6th.

"I was sitting on the ground when Lisa and Jared brought Valerie in, and she ran straight up to me — I just burst into tears," said Georgia. "She was wagging her tail, making her little happy sounds, and wiggling around with joy. I held her and cried and cried."

Valerie's owners were shocked to discover their tiny pet had not just survived but thrived in the wild.

"She's stockier now, strong and healthy… healthier than we are, honestly!" Georgia laughed.

Josh added, "It was incredible – euphoric! We never thought we'd hold her again, and then suddenly, there she was. It still doesn't feel real."

Jared Karran, Director of Kangala Wildlife Rescue, expressed his amazement at the tiny dog's resilience.

"If it was a miracle before that she'd survived – seeing her size - it's just unbelievable that she was able to survive and thrive out there!" he said.

Valerie's survival is proof that she is obviously cut from the same cloth as her ancestors, and her story has captivated animal lovers worldwide.

Georgia had some parting words.

"I hope Valerie's story brings hope, joy and inspiration to anyone who's ever lost a pet or going through a difficult time," she said.

"If the smallest sausage dog can survive 529 days in the bush— you, too, can survive whatever life throws at you."

Feature image: Kangala Rescue.

This article was originally published on April 18, 2025, and has since been updated.