Experts ‘amazed’ at survival of Valerie the miniature dachshund – on the run on South Australian island for more than a year

Pet escaped from her pen when her owners were holidaying on Kangaroo Island, which is famous for its native wildlife

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A miniature dachshund that went missing 16 months ago on Kangaroo Island in South Australia has been spotted alive and well - but continues to evade a team of volunteer searchers and wildlife experts who say they are amazed" the dog survived for so long in the wild.

Valerie weighed less than 4kg, had a pink collar and would never leave [the] side" of her owner, Georgia Gardner, before she went missing in November 2023.

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