Daring Dachshund defies odds by surviving solo on island for 17+ months, with tons of scary snakes, yet mysteriously the pup returned to pawrents having gained weight: ‘Her adventure transformed her from a tiny house dog into a symbol of resilience’

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Sep 19, 2026 8:15 AM EDT

Prior to reading this story you might have thought that Dachshunds are amongst the most incapable breeds of pups out there, and you would have been relatively right. But now that this tale has revealed itself to the world, there is no denying the sheer main character energy that a Dachshund can display.

Posted to r/dailydoseofaww this story really was deserving of a post in any other subreddit that details the ins and outs of a hero's journey. For the adventure that this tiny doggo embarked upon is not a small thing. She took on one of the harshest habitats on earth with some of the most vicious creatures. And not only did she emerge victorious managing to evade predators and hoomans alike for more than a year. But she also managed to do so well out in the wild that she actually gained weight. Something that practically no lost doggo has ever done before, especially if they have been missing for more than a year.

So it begs the question how? How did this tiny, seemingly useless pup manage to hold her own against so many terrifying creatures? Well, that accolade is something that is owed to her genetics. Much like Jack Russell Terries, the Dachshund was bred to join hunters who were after rabbits and other animals that burrow. Their slender and small bodies making for the pawfect size and shape to squeeze into these tight tunnels. So in actual fact, the Dachshund is far more prepared to hold their own than many other doggos. 
 

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    "After five days of searching, they had to return home without her."
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife

    Middle aged man and woman smiling holding dachshund.

    Models for explanatory purposes only.  


     

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    Valerie was a pampered miniature dachshund living in New South Wales with her owner, Georgia Gardner. In
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    while Georgia and her boyfriend Josh Fishlock were visiting Kangaroo Island in South Australia, Valerie escaped from her
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    playpen and disappeared into the wilderness. After five days of searching, they had to return home without her.
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    Despite being a tiny, inexperienced house dog, Valerie somehow survived alone in the island's rugged bushland, where snakes,
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    eagles, and other dangers were everywhere. Fifteen months later, locals began reporting sightings of Valerie about 10 miles from
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife

  • Holy moly, what in the wild west is going on here. A tiny sausage dog, the only dog at that which has been directly named after a food, is holding her own in the bush? One of the most notorious places in all the animal kingdom? This is unlike anything we could have imagined happening. Heck, an eagle could easily just fly up behind the unsuspecting pup and pick her up. How she has managed to stay alive for even a few hours is quite the wonder we have to say. 
     

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    where she had disappeared. Kangala Wildlife Rescue set up camera traps baited with roast chicken and sardines, eventually capturing
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    footage proving she was alive and surprisingly healthy. She had become extremely wary of humans and was difficult to catch, often grabbing food
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    before disappearing for days. After months of failed attempts, the rescue team built a special trap using Valerie's old bed, toys, her
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    owner's clothing, and familiar smells. After 529 days in the wilderness, Valerie finally entered the crate, and the remotely operated door was closed behind her. Valerie
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    was found in remarkably good health and had even gained 1.8kg compared with her original 4kg weight. After spending time
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife

  • This dog needs a book written about her adventures. What is this madness? It is as though she broke free from the pen to literally choose the feral life. Siding with her animal brethren over the hoomans she had grown up trusting. All while becoming crafty enough to eat enough food provided by hoomans, as well as food she caught herself in the bush to come back home heavier than she originally was?! What is this madness? For the many hundreds of hungry dog stories where lost pups come home disheveled and down trodden, there stands this one shining example of the doggo who no one thought could make it on her own, making it.
     

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    was found in remarkably good health and had even gained 1.8kg compared with her original 4kg weight. After spending time
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    her pampered life and was later made an official ambassador for a dog product company, while her incredible survival story inspired a
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    book and an Australian film. Her 529-day adventure transformed her from a tiny house dog into a symbol of resilience and showed that even
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    Forward Young. Got the thousand yard stare in the last pic. 'Return me to my island you wretched apes'
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    Delicious_Subje The last picture looks like the dog is saying, "them snakes were tasty. 10/10, would do it again."
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    Cheezburger Image 10661893376
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    Cheezburger Image 10661894400
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    Cheezburger Image 10661893888
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife
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    Cheezburger Image 10661894144
    via Wholesomepost, Georgia Gardner & Kangala Wildlife

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scary months odd mysterious weight gain dachshund island solo reddit story pawrents snakes daring do survive dog story return pup
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