Famous sausage dog Valerie finally captured after 529 days lost on Kangaroo Island

After 529 days, it’s the news everyone, and especially Valerie’s relieved owners, has been waiting for. Read Valerie’s paw-rent’s statement.

After 529 days on the run, Valerie, the missing sausage dog who has become a Kangaroo Island legend and international icon has been caught.

“For anyone who’s ever lost a pet, your feelings are valid and never give up hope. Sometimes good things happen to good people,” the mischievous pup’s relieved owners released in a statement to The Advertiser.

“We’re incredibly grateful for Kangala Wildlife Rescue, the Kangaroo Island community, our friends, family and everyone who has contributed their support to rescue Val.

We are tremendously excited to be seeing Valerie soon.”

The elusive 2-year-old pooch was finally snagged by the team at Kangala Wildlife Rescue on Friday night with the organisation sharing the exciting news on their social media accounts.

Famous sausage dog Valerie finally captured after 529 days lost on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Kangala Wildlife Rescue

“Kangala Wildlife Rescue is overjoyed to announce the successful rescue of Valerie, the miniature dachshund who went missing on Kangaroo Island 529 days ago,” the rescue team wrote on Facebook.

“After weeks of tireless efforts by Kangala Wildlife Rescue volunteers and partner organisations Valerie has been safely rescued and is fit and well.

Valerie the missing sausage dog on Kangaroo Island has been found. Picture: Facebook

“We are absolutely thrilled and deeply relieved that Valerie is finally safe and able to begin her transition back to her loving parents Josh and Georgia.”

Kangala Wildlife Rescue said volunteers spent “over 1000 hours” and travelled “5000km” during their search for the sneaky sausage.

The not-for-profit used a range of trapping methods, treats and reminders of Valerie’s home to catch the pup, along with various cameras and “forms of technology”.

In their post, it acknowledged the support received from across the globe.

Valerie’s fans were quick to respond with words of praise.

Valerie the missing sausage dog caught on camera, again ... and finally caught. Picture: Kangala Wildlife Rescue

“I’ve been following this story from Perth and now on holidays in Japan and been following the updates. I’m so excited to see Valerie has been caught,” one commenter wrote.

“Sooooo happy! I’m cheering!,” another added.

Valerie’s incredible tale started on November 13, 2023, when she escaped from her playpen near Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island while her owners Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock were on a brief fishing trip.

Speaking to The Advertiser in March, Ms Gardner remembered being “bewildered” and in denial when she realised Valerie was gone.

“I remember on the first day I was just covered in tears. We barely ate anything,” she said.

Valerie the missing sausage dog on KI, with owners Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock. Picture: Supplied

After scrapping their holiday plans and desperately searching the area for a week, the devastated couple had to leave the island and return to their then home in Broken Hill.

“My whole world just crumbled,” Ms Gardner, who has since moved to Albury, said.

“When we left the island without her, I cried for days.”

A year after Valerie first went missing, Ms Gardner and Mr Fishlock were shocked to hear reports of locals on the island spotting the miniature dashaund running through farmland.

But they tried “not to get (their) hopes up”.

When they received photographic proof of their “princess”, the couple’s spirits began to lift.

“We’ve never really ruled out that it wasn’t possible that she wasn’t alive,” Ms Gardner said. “(We were in) such a mix of emotions.”

Over the past month, Valerie has been teasing her dedicated band of followers with regular sightings being shared on Kangala Wildlife Rescue’s social media.

The posts have attracted thousands of comments and views. One fan from Arizona in the US followed the story 14,000km from Kangaroo Island.

“As an animal lover, I looked it up on Facebook and have been following her story ever since,” said Jennifer Henry, who first heard about Valerie on her local Fox 10 Phoenix TV station.

“I’m now invested and hope and pray that they’re able to catch her and return her to her family. (It’s) such a great story of the resilience that animals have.”

Ms Henry’s prayers, along with thousands of others from all over the world, have been answered.

Many are now hoping to keep a close eye on the famous pooch as she makes her way home to her loving family.

While last night’s good news will be a relief to many, the story is not over.

Followers of Kangala Wildlife Rescue beg for continuing updates on Valerie as she is reunited with her ‘paw-rents’.

“We are excited to share further details about Valerie’s rescue, including footage and photographs, very soon,” the charity promised in their social media post.

“Valerie’s story is a reminder that hope and determination can lead to incredible results.”

Maybe a bidding war for film rights is next?