Valerie the miniature dachshund has happily been returned to her owners, Georgia and Josh Fishlock. She’d been lost for a year and a half on an uninhabited Australian island. The reunion will be an emotional milestone for Garcia’s family. For Valerie, many of whom spent most of their adult lives homeless, she became very isolated.
Finally, on April 25th, Valerie was located having survived for 529 days in the wild. When she was first found, she only tipped the scales at 4kg (9lb). Her capture weight, at 6.8 kilograms (15lbs), is testimony to the fact that she had settled comfortably into her new feral life. Volunteers island-wide, filled with passion and heart, put 1,000 hours of energy into the rescue operation. Together, they drove or cycled about 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles) all over the island.
Her famous return to the Fishlock household guarantees a hero’s welcome. The family rounds out with their rescue cat, Lucy and their cattle dog, Mason. They can’t wait to introduce Valerie to their new rescue dachshund, Dorothy. Consulting with a dog behaviorist, Georgia Gardner turned her artsy vision into reality. Their combined efforts helped set Valerie up for success, once returned home after such a lengthy absence.
When Valerie was eventually caught, she was found to be in outstanding condition, surprising Jared Karran, director of Kangala Wildlife Rescue. He remembered the shocking state in which he discovered Valerie.
“If it was a miracle that she’s survived — seeing her size — it’s just unbelievable that she was able to survive and thrive out there,” – Jared Karran.
The family reunion itself was an emotional experience for Georgia. The moment Valerie spotted her owner, she sprinted directly to her, prompting Gardner to start crying uncontrollably.
“She ran straight up to me — I just burst into tears,” – Georgia Gardner.
Once she was in Valerie’s arms, this little girl returned all the love she received with a wiggly tail and happy noises. Gardner recounted the moment, saying,
“She was wagging her tail, making her little happy sounds and wiggling around with joy. I held her and cried and cried.”
To ensure Valerie continues to be in tip-top shape, she will be put on a raw food diet going forward. Like the Fishlock family, we cannot wait to see what this new chapter holds for our partnership together! Their main focus is to establish a peaceful and nurturing home for their four-legged friend.
