Kangaroo Island (Australia) - The nightmare of all dog owners has come true for a young couple from Australia . While on vacation, their little miniature dachshund Valerie escaped and never returned. Every search failed, but now the four-legged friend has been spotted!

In a Facebook post by the Australian wildlife rescue organization "Kangala Wildlife Rescue", the organization tells the story of the brave female dachshund .

In November 2023, two young Australians, Josh and Georgia, went on vacation to Kangaroo Island in the south of the country. The island is primarily known for its rich wildlife , hence the name.

Of course, their four-legged protégé was also there, following the couple wherever they went, whether on the beach, in the water or at the campsite. But suddenly their lovely vacation took a tragic turn when Valerie escaped from her enclosure in front of their tent one evening and scampered into the nearby thicket.

All attempts to find the little dachshund failed - and so, with heavy hearts, Josh and Georgia had to return home without Valerie. The two had actually given up hope, but now residents of the island regularly reported seeing a dachshund with a pink collar - could this be the missing dog?

And indeed! Volunteers from the Kangal Wildlife Rescue Organization have looked at several photos and videos and confirmed that the dog seen there is indeed Valerie, who apparently survived almost 16 months in the wild.

The only problem is that Valerie doesn't seem to want to return home. She immediately takes flight as soon as she sees or even hears a person or a vehicle and disappears straight back into the nearest bush. The wildlife rescue service has already set out various traps and baits for the little dog, but so far none have caught her.

The British Guardian asked some experts how the little dog was able to survive for so long in the harsh wilderness. They too are amazed by the instincts of the dog, which weighs just four kilograms.

Some of them assume that the four-legged friend received help from some residents who mistook the dachshund for a simple dog from the neighborhood. Others claim that Valerie fed mainly on roadkill, droppings and stagnant water.

But because the island is so big and Valerie is so small, it's a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack - or a dachshund in the forest.