Happy Thought for 2 May 2025

Have a Happy Thought: 

Sometimes, we forget how capable we can be, if we are faced with just the right challenge. A dachshund recently discovered this for herself by surviving in the wilderness for more than 16 months.

For those of you that haven’t heard, a dachshund named Valerie went missing during a family trip to Kangaroo Island, Australia. Her human family had gone out for a walk, and returned to their camp site to find Valarie missing. Even though they stayed nearly an extra week on the island to search for her, they were unsuccessful.

But Valerie is a clever dog and managed to keep herself fed, and safe from all of the predators on Kangaroo Island – not just kangaroos, and not just human-introduced species like feral cats, foxes, and rabbits... but also the Rosenberg’s goanna:

Image: Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble - heath goanna Varanus rosenbergii Uploaded by Amada44 CC BY 2.0

Imagine being a miniature dachshund (yes, Valarie was only ever 30 cm long) coming up against this 1.5-meter long lizard!

Despite this, and having to survive for the first time in her life without the treats and soft beds she knew, Valerie not only survived, she seems to have thrived! Here’s before-and-after photos (and a video of Valerie re-discovering toys and soft bedding at a wildlife rescue centre):

Image: Valarie before her epic adventure. Source: her family’s Facebook page

Image: still frame from camera overlooking trap cage, the night before Valerie was finally captured. Source: Kangala Wildlife Rescue.

Given that dachshunds were bred for hunting badgers, foxes and rabbits, this little pup may just have had the perfect instincts for surviving in the wild. Here’s hoping that the biggest challenge she has to face in the remainder of her days, though, is getting up on the couch.

For more reporting on this, just search “daschund Kangaroo Island”, or check out this explainer comic strip, written after she was spotted but before she was re-captured.