Dachshund lost on an Australian island is still alive. But no one can catch her

Valerie, a lost Dachshund in Australia for over a year, has been alive-and apparently still with her pink collar. But recovering it is making it difficult.

The story begins in November 2023, when Georgia and Josh Fishlock took Valerie, their pet mini-dachshund, for a vacation on Kangaroo Island, off the coast of Adelaide, Australia.

But, says, Valerie managed to jump from the fence of the property where the couple was housed, and fled to the bush and lost on the island, whose aboriginal name is Generation Pintinggawhich means “Island of the Dead” – An auspicious name.

The couple gave up their holiday plans and was Five days looking for From the pet, with the help of local inhabitants, before finally giving up and returning home in New South Wales. “It was like looking for a needle in a haystack,” says Josh in an interview with.

Now, more than a year after Valerie’s disappearance, hope comes.

“Based on firsthand reports and video tests, we now know that Valerie is alive“Last week announced the local animal rescue organization Kangala Wildlife rescue in one on social networks.

Valerie was spotted about 16 km where it disappeared, in Stokes Bay, and was identified, in part, by your pink collar.

Efforts are being made to rescue it, but this has been difficult. “It escapes the first sign of humans or vehicles and, despite the best efforts of the dedicated inhabitants of the island, Valerie has been impossible to catch“The note of Kangala Wildlife Rescue explains.

“We are using Surveillance and various trap methods and attraction in the zone where it was last seen to try to bring it home, ”says the statement.“ This is A small dog in a huge area And we will need the public’s help to communicate any sighting and very luck. ”

On Thursday, Jared, a member of Kangala’s rescue mission, gave encouraging details: “I saw her. We were able to reduce the search area to a specific point.” Also Fishlock is more excited. “Initially, we were skepticalbut there are more and more sightings. ”

Georgia still can’t believe Valerie is alive. “She is not an outdoor bitch, it was not particularly hard or strong,” says the owner of the animal to the British newspaper. ” One night on the streetin the rain, oh my God… so having a year and a half is amazing“.

Although the first idea we have of a dachshund is that of a cute dog, the breed actually has some real survival capabilities.

“Dachshunds were not made to run long distances, jump or swim in a strenuous way, but These tireless dogs are capable of everything“Explains the race description page.

“Created to be Hunters independent of dangerous preycan be brave to the point of recklessness“. Apparently, they are also difficult to catch…