Exclusive footage reveals dachshund Valerie sniffing around a trap and playing with food boxes, bringing hope that she may be reunited with her family soon.
After over 500 days, the search for Valerie, a miniature dachshund missing from Kangaroo Island in South Australia, is finally gaining momentum. New footage has emerged showing ‘sniffing around a trap and playing with food boxes’ , bringing hope that she may be reunited with her family soon.
Valerie‘s disappearance in November 2023 was met with concern as she had been secured in a pen on the island. However, her escape led to an extensive search operation that was eventually abandoned due to the disruption it caused to other wildlife. The team leading the search, Kangala Wildlife Rescue, has stated that the need to tread carefully around Valerie and avoid disrupting other wildlife has made trapping her difficult.
Recent sightings of Valerie have sparked debate about whether she may be feral or surviving on roadkill and faeces of other animals. However, experts believe that with the help of new technology, including webcams connected to 4G and a remote trigger system using mobile phone networks, they may finally be able to capture her.
Kangala has set up a trap for Valerie with some of her favourite treats, including roast chicken. The team has posted videos of Valerie playing with the food boxes and sniffing around the trap site, showing an improvement in her demeanour as she begins to remember familiar smells, tastes, and sounds.
While there is still uncertainty about Valerie‘s fate, the latest developments offer a glimmer of hope that she may soon be reunited with her family. As the search continues, one thing is clear: Valerie‘s story has captured the hearts of many around the world, and her eventual return home will be a joyous moment for all involved.
