Incredible new footage of missing Dachshund Valerie gives fresh hope for her rescue

Valerie The Dachshund has been missing in the Australian desert for 16 months, but the new images have given their owners new hopes.

The black and tan miniature Dachshund disappeared in November 2023 after escaping his pen while trying to follow his owners to Stokes Bay Beach.

The little sausage dog was not seen for more than a year, but like Valerie’s owners they feared the worst, they received news that Valerie had not only been seen but also got alive by the camera.

The story has grabbed the public worldwide, since many wonder how a small dog that weighed only 4 kg when he escaped has survived for so long in the desert.

Kangala Wildlife Rescue shared new images on Monday night, giving Valerie’s owners more hope that they will soon meet with their dog.

A passionate group of volunteers has been presenting innovative ways to try to tempt Valerie de la Nature establishing a cage loaded with their favorite food, toys and bed.

And on Monday night, Valerie was caught in the camera inside the cage.

“We have seen an incredible change in the behavior of Valerie recently when it begins to remember all those smells, tastes and family sounds,” Kangala shared on Facebook.

Frustively, although Valerie visited the cage regularly, Kangala’s team has not been able to capture Valerie safely.

The normal method to allow the dog to activate the trap itself or a human that activates it while hiding close has been drained by another wildlife that visits the trap or that no one is present when Valerie visits at night.

“While Valerie has been gaining confidence in the trap, we have been working hard to make a remote activation system for the trap using the mobile phone network.” Kangala said.

Kangala has been testing a new system that they think will work and that the final part will arrive next week so they can install it completely.

Kangala Wildlife Rescue volunteers are concerned that a bad trial of rescue can scare Valerie and cause anguish.

“The team has been working tirelessly throughout the day for weeks on this mission, the main approach being the security of Valerie and its mental health and doing everything possible so that the transition from return home is as free as possible stress.” They said on Facebook.