By Charmayne Allison, ABC
Valerie the dachshund. Photo: ABC via Facebook
A beloved miniature dachshund who disappeared on a South Australian island 529 days ago has been found safe and well by wildlife rescuers.
Valerie the dachshund vanished a year-and-a-half ago on Kangaroo Island, with Kangala Wildlife Rescue working "around the clock" in recent weeks to bring her home.
On Friday night, they announced Valerie had finally been rescued.
"After weeks of tireless efforts by Kangala Wildlife Rescue volunteers and partner organisations, Valerie has been safely rescued and is fit and well," they said in a social media post.
"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."
Owner Georgia Gardner expressed her relief on social media.
"For anyone who's ever lost a pet, your feelings are valid and never give up hope," she said in a post.
"Sometimes good things happen to good people.
"Incredibly grateful for Kangala Wildlife Rescue, the Kangaroo Island community, our friends, family and everyone who has contributed their support to rescue Val.
"We'll see you soon Valerie."
Search for Valerie takes 1000 volunteer hours
Kangala Wildlife Rescue said the search for Valerie involved more than 1000 volunteer hours and roughly 5000 kilometres travelled.
The local team set up a "rescue site" which included cameras and a trap with a "remote door system".
They said the main focus was Valerie's safety and mental health, "doing everything we can to make the transition back home as stress free as possible".
The team set up the large dog trap like "her own little room", furnishing it with Valerie's toys and bed from home, her mum's clothing, hidden food and challenges to keep her entertained.
"The plan is to unlock a few of these memories that have been temporarily locked away since she's been in survival mode," the rescue team said earlier this week in a post.
"We have seen an amazing change in Valerie's [demeanour] recently as she begins to remember all those familiar smells, tastes and sounds."
Island a 'perfect oasis' for Valerie
The wildlife rescue said Kangaroo Island was a "perfect oasis" for Valerie's survival, with abundant overhead cover and many hiding spots to protect her in extreme weather.
"While it's been a great area for little Valerie, you can certainly see why this rescue has been challenging and keeping everyone on their toes," they said in a social post.
Kangala Wildlife Rescue said Valerie would often drop in to the rescue site, before wandering off for days.
They said the "abundance of wildlife" and Valerie's constantly changing schedule meant it had been "impossible" to safely secure the dachshund using their normal trapping methods, so they installed a remote trigger system instead.
"This rescue was a true testament to the dedication and perseverance of our team, the unwavering support of the community, and the power of collaboration," the team said.
"There were many challenging moments over the past month, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who played a part in bringing Valerie home."
- ABC
