Emotional scenes as iconic Kangaroo Island sausage dog Valerie reunited with owners

She spent 529 days on the run in Kangaroo Island and now 11 days since her valiant rescue, Valerie the miniature dachshund has been reunited with her beloved owners.

She spent 529 days on the run in Kangaroo Island and now 11 days since her valiant rescue, Valerie the miniature sausage dog has been reunited with her beloved owners.

Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock made the trip down from Albury, NSW on Monday night and said they were “so happy” to see their “princess” after 17 months.

Speaking exclusively to The Advertiser after their long-awaited reunion, the couple said it was “incredible” to see her again after she escaped from their campsite in Stokes Bay on November 13, 2023.

“I bawled my eyes out and just seeing her come up and wag her tail and bark, I’m speechless,” Ms Gardner said.

“Just so much emotion.”

Valerie is reunited with her owners, Georgia and Josh, at Kangala wildlife park on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Dean Martin

While many online followers of Valerie’s tale suspected she may not warm to humans after her vagabond lifestyle, the complete opposite was true as the tiny pup provided her parents with all the kisses and cuddles they had been waiting for.

“We were very nervous coming in today but the reaction was just priceless, it could not have been scripted,” Mr Fishlock said.

Valerie is just as Ms Gardner and Mr Fishlock remember but has gained 1.8kg of muscle and become “more open to people”.

“She has definitely grown and put on some lean muscle,” Ms Gardner said.

It is the couple’s first time back on the island since Valerie’s disappearance with Tuesday’s reunion helping them leave their negative memories at the popular tourist destination in the past.

“We were on the ferry across and we were just looking at each other like ‘I can’t believe it, we’re back here’ because we kind of came to the conclusion that we were never coming back,” Ms Gardner said.

The nearly three-year-old dachshund has been living with her rescuers at Kangala Wildlife Rescue since her capture with co-directors and volunteers, Jared and Lisa Karran helping to re-adjust Valerie to the life of a pet.

The now-found miniature dachshund Valerie with Kangala Wildlife Rescue’s Lisa Karran after her rescue. Picture: Kangala Wildlife Rescue

Valerie’s owners said they were “so grateful” for the charity’s help in not only finding Valerie but also looking after her while they juggled the logistics of travelling to Kangaroo Island.

“When Lisa called (to say Valerie had been found), I was at work and Josh was away and we couldn’t just drop of a hat drive straight back,” Ms Gardner said.

“Especially for Valerie’s care and decompressing, it was really good for her to spend the time here, for them to look at her behavior (and) to be introduced slowly (to) everything.

“All these lovely people have put in hours of time, hours of effort … and for them to catch her and us just take that away, we want them to give her some pats, experience how she is…and see why we missed her and why everyone’s been putting themselves through this.”

Valerie gives Georgia and Josh a licky welcome. Picture: Dean Martin

Valerie and her paw-rents will spend the next few days on the island with Ms Gardner and Mr Fishlock hoping to thank the many individuals who helped bring their family back together.

It will be a “very tearful” goodbye for the Kangala Wildlife Rescue team who have been completely won over by the adorable dog.

“It’s been a real ride…seeing the reaction of Valerie today, seeing her mum and dad was awesome,” Mr Karran said.

Kangala Wildlife Rescue announced the successful capture of Valerie, the miniature dachshund who went missing on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Kangala Wildlife Rescue / Facebook

“It makes everything we have all been through worthwhile.”

The famous sausage dog will be driven back to Albury at the end of the week with her owners already having plans in place for her homecoming.

“We are going to continue conversing with Lisa and we’ve talked to pet behaviorists just about how to integrate (Valerie) back into our house and our chaotic little family,” Ms Gardner, who has two other dogs and a cat, said.

“The biggest thing at the moment is Valerie’s mental health,” Mr Fishlock added.

Valerie before she disappeared on KI.

With the family now looking forward to beginning their next chapter, Ms Gardner and Mr Fishlock said Valerie’s story is one of “hope” and a reminder to “count on each other”.

“To anyone who has ever lost a dog or is going through a difficult time, if Valerie can survive in the bush for 529 days then you too can get through what you’re going through and make it out the other side, happy and tail-wagging.”