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Breed won't foretell dog's personality, survey says
A runaway canine named Valerie has been captured aft a 529-day adventure, transfixing Australia arsenic she roamed an land teeming with kangaroos, possums, koala bears and penguins.
The miniature dachshund had eluded searchers connected Kangaroo Island since November 2023, lone seldom appearing successful fuzzy glimpses caught by night-time cameras that showed her pinkish collar.
"Valerie has been safely rescued and is live and well," the wildlife radical that spent months tracking the wily canine connected the confederate Australian land said precocious Friday.
A mislaid miniature dachshund named Valerie has yet been recovered and captured aft 529 days. pic.twitter.com/oxPkPYVGux
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) April 28, 2025"We are perfectly thrilled and profoundly relieved that Valerie is yet harmless and capable to statesman her modulation backmost to her loving parents," Kangala Wildlife Rescue posted connected societal media, on with a little video clip of the pooch.
Valerie made her flight during a camping travel with owners Georgia Gardner and her spouse Josh Fishlock, dashing retired of a pen and into the bush.
Her owners gave up aft days of searching connected the island, which spans much than 4,400 quadrate kilometres (1,700 quadrate miles) of farms, quality reserves, and craggy cliffs.
The missing mutt was not seen for much than a year, with galore holding retired small anticipation for her survival.
Then, video surveillance and locals began spotting her, and volunteers launched a diligent hunt for the hound, which seemed to fly from radical and cars.
"Valerie seems intolerable to trap," wildlife rescuers posted connected societal media past month.
Investing much than 1,000 hours, unpaid searchers drove much than 3,100 miles and deployed cameras, traps and lures.
"This rescue was a existent testament to the dedication and perseverance of our team, the unwavering enactment of the community, and the powerfulness of collaboration," Kangala Wildlife Rescue wrote. "There were galore challenging moments implicit the past month, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who played a portion successful bringing Valerie home."
Valerie was captured aft a 529 days connected Kanagroo Island successful Australia.
Kangala Wildlife Rescue
Regular online updates gave anticipation they were gradually closing in.
Snatches of black-and-white video showed Valerie regularly visiting a trap site, acceptable up with a canine crate, blankets and toys -- though the facilities besides attracted possums.
"Incredibly grateful"
Finally, she was lured into the crate by the scent from torn-up strips of a garment worn by her proprietor Georgia, Kangala directors Jared and Lisa Karran said successful a video update.
"She was rummaging around, uncovering small nutrient stashes each implicit the place. Then she went close to the backmost corner, which is wherever we wanted her," said Jared Karran.
"I pressed the fastener and, thankfully, it each worked perfectly: the distant dropped the doorway and that was each secured."
As the four-legged flight creator became utilized to her caller surroundings, Lisa Karran got successful the crate to beryllium with her.
But she entered from the apical to debar opening a broadside door.
"No mode we were letting that sausage canine tally distant connected america again," Jared said.
On her instrumentality to civilization, Valerie was treated to canine nutrient and her favorite, roast chicken.
Sizing up the adventurer, Jared said she was amazingly small.
"I deliberation that she looks rather large connected the camera. When I saw her successful existent life, she is tiny. She's got, like, an inch clearance nether her belly, tiny small legs."
Despite their humble dimensions, dachshunds are "game for anything", according to the American Kennel Club.
"Bred to beryllium an autarkic huntsman of unsafe prey, they tin beryllium brave to the constituent of rashness, and a spot stubborn," it says.
Valerie's proprietor Gardner said successful a societal media station that she was "incredibly grateful" to the volunteers who helped find her dog.
"For anyone who's ever mislaid a pet, your feelings are valid and ne'er springiness up hope."
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