'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 has been thriving. What is it? 

Well it's Valerie, the ferocious pet sausage dog who has been missing on the island for over 500 days, of course. 

In November 2023, Valerie was the happy companion of her humanoid 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. 

Broken-hearted, 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's 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, it seems at this stage that Valerie either does not know how to come home, or is willfully 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 has been 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 is that they can't set any traps that could hold her in place due to the risk of capturing local wildlife accidentally. 

Recognising her intelligence and skittishness, rescuers have transformed a trap into a comforting space, filling it with her favourite toys, her mum's clothing, and familiar scents. This "little room" has helped Valerie build confidence, and she now visits the site regularly, sometimes disappearing for up to six days but always returning.

Until now, they have been unable to remotely close the door on the cage when Valerie visits it. But that is all about to change. 

To outsmart their clever quarry, the team has developed a remote-controlled trap system. Using mobile phone alerts, rescuers hope to close the trap at exactly the right moment, finally bringing Valerie home. The system is being installed in mid-April 2025, with optimism running high that the saga may soon have a happy ending.

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As someone with two sausage dogs myself, I just know that Valerie has been 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 who 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. 

Her family hope Valerie will be home soon. Image: Kangala Rescue

Valerie is obviously cut from the same cloth as her ancestors, and her story has captivated animal lovers worldwide.

The Kangala Wildlife Rescue team and its volunteers have poured countless hours into rescue efforts to no avail. The hope amongst the Kangaroo Island community and Valerie's family, is that she will be brought home safely soon.

As of April 2025, Valerie is still at large but tantalisingly close to rescue. 

Her regular visits to the trap, growing confidence, and the imminent installation of the new remote system mean her homecoming could be just days away. 

For her owners, the prospect of being reunited with their "princess" is everything: "It would just mean that our little family is finally complete," Georgia Gardner says.

Feature image: Kangala Rescue.