Missing Dachshund Rescued After Surviving for Over a Year on Australian Island

1. Searching for a lost pet is hard—but doing it across 1,700 square miles of cliffs, snakes, and spiders is another level. That's what happened to an Australian couple when their miniature dachshund, Valerie, vanished during a 2023 camping trip on Kangaroo Island. After days of searching, they had to give up. Over a year later, sightings of Valerie sparked a renewed search that drew global attention. Have you ever lost a pet, even briefly?

2. Now, after evading rescuers for an astonishing 529 days, the 8-pound dog was finally captured last week. "After weeks of tireless efforts, Valerie was finally lured into a crate by the scent of torn-up pieces of her owner's shirt, Kangala directors Jared and Lisa Karran said in a video update. Do feel good stories like this ever make you feel more hopeful?