Melbourne, Australia (AP) – Valerie, a miniature drock lost for 18 months – or about half of his life – on an Australian island, was brought together with its owners, its rescuers said on Wednesday.
The owner Georgia Gardner said that her pet approached without hesitation when they were brought together by Kangala Wildlife rescued on the island of Kangaroo off the coast of the state of South Australia for the first time since November 2023.
“She ran directly towards me – I just melted into tears,” Gardner said in a statement published on Wednesday.
“She stirred her tail, made her happy little sounds and torted with joy. I kept her and cried and cried,” added Gardner.
The almost 3 year old Valerie was trapped on April 25 in a remarkably good condition after 529 days spent living as a wild animal. Valerie had balanced 4 kilograms (9 pounds) when it was lost and now weighs 6.8 kilograms (15 pounds). There are speculations that she has survived the hiking and animal excrement.
Gardner and his partner, Josh Fishlock, had a vacation on the island and were far from their campsite fishing when their animal escaped from a pen. The couple searched but finally had to return to the continent without them.
Volunteers from Kangala Wildlife Rescue, a non -profit service, identified distinctive addition to the Australian Wilderness in March.
It was captured after volunteers spent around 1,000 hours looking for 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles) from the island.
After seeing images of video cameras from the dog sniffing a trap last month, Kangala Wildlife Rescue director Jared Karran said it was surprised by the size that she was actually.
“If it was a miracle that she survived – see her size – it is simply incredible that she could survive and prosper there,” said Karran.
Gardner and Fishlock will bring Valerie to their home in Albury in the state of South New Wales.
Garner said that she had worked with a dog behaviorist to help Valerie move to family life. Valerie will be kept on a raw diet “given its incredible condition when it was found,” said Gardner.
In Albury, Valerie will be gathered with the Lucy and Cattle Dog Mason rescue cat. It will also be presented to the new Teckel of its owners, Dorothy.
