19h ago

Dog found after 529 days of being lost on an island

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/28754203

The 8-pound dog went missing on the rugged Kangaroo Island in Australia in November 2023 while on vacation with her owners. After a 529-day search, the pup is finally safe and back in human care.
"After weeks of tireless efforts by Kangala Wildlife Rescue volunteers and partner organizations, Valerie has been safely rescued and is fit and well. We are absolutely thrilled and deeply relieved that Valerie is finally safe and able to begin her transition back to her loving parents, Josh and Georgia."
You can read more HERE.

And Finally... @feddit.uk

cyrano @lemmy.dbzer0.com

9h ago

Dog found after 529 days of being lost on an island

Dogs @lemmy.world

ickplant @lemmy.world

24h ago

Dog found after 529 days of being lost on an island

29 comments

Dog: “I was lost? I thought you were lost.”
- “I heard you calling my name, so I knew you were ok.”

Weiner dogs are vicious skilled predators. Didn't turn your back to one.
- Just don't

I wonder if I got lost people would go these lengths to find me.
- I'd be dead long before then. Especially in Australia.

Crazy the dog survived that long. Curious what food they found to survive.
- It's a hunting dog. Most likely rats and similar.
- On an island with ample food sources it really isn’t all that crazy, compared to the many things I have heard of dogs surviving.
  There was a dog that got lost on Saint Lawrence Island in the winter, which apparently crossed the sea ice all the way to Wales, AK over 160 miles away. I think they believe the dog managed to catch and eat birds along the way, as there was quite literally nothing else he could have eaten.
  That is quite insane. I cant imagine how I would survive on foot trying to make it 160 miles away, let alone if that entire 160 miles was just barren ice
  
  I believe there's a fairly popular documentary about a pair of lost dogs and cat who make their way back home after being lost.
  https://youtu.be/ceOXz_DVLCA
  
  I don't question the dog hunting abilities, but really there is not a predator in Australia that could have taken the dog in that time frame? I am more impressed about that.
- The kibble tree

Big island if they spent 1000 years searching on it, lemme tells ya
- hours

Link to the article, not the image
- It's in the linked post.
  
  TBF, Voyager doesn't make it obvious. Maybe they're using a Lemmy app with a similar issue.

If my corgi would go missing in such a tour you can bet your ass I'm not leaving that fucking island before I got her back.

Am I the only one who feels sorry for the dog? I suspect she'd have been happier on the island, given how hard she worked to evade humans and recapture.
- That running away from humans is a survival mechanism is what many rescuers say. One of them even coined the term Lost Dog Syndrome.
  TL;DR: The dog is in survival / ferel mode and it is suspicious of anything other than itself. Providing a safe space and slowly introducing back to humans actually change it's behaviour into a calm and friendly one.
- I'm sure the dog was having the time of her life! I do wander if part of the reason for the effort might have been worry about the ecological effects of the dog.
  
  Yep, thats it.
  Lots of conservation areas and a national park. A "529 day search" was the weekly briefing for the National Parks staff including "Hey, nobodys found that dog yet. Keep an eye out."

All the joy from that ~~puppy~~ dog eyes is gone.
- The photo looks like an adoration stare. I've known multiple dogs that do it. It's either the equivalent of a loving hug between humans, or an attempt to con someone out of some food.
  Dogs are a lot more "in the moment" than humans. They remember traumatic events, but are far less reactive to them, unless something explicitly sets off the memories.
  Basically, the dog is either very happy to be spending time with its pack leader again, or just wants the treat they are holding behind the camera.
- I don't think it's a before and after photo, but the one on the right has raised eyebrows indicating captivation.
- Those eyes say "I'm sorry. I'll never run off when you say no ever again...."
  Those eyes also tell a story of sadness and a tramatic experience.
  What that puppy may not realize at the time of this photo, is that his story is to be filled with the most overprotective, spoiling, snuggling humans ever. Whoever cares for this little guy may not ever let him out of their sight, but it's only because they will be as scared as the dog is, for the rest of the dogs life. Hopefully a nonverbal communication will translate to the dog that it's for his own good.
  
  Those eyes say nothing like that. You have no real clue what these eyes say. You just like to anthropomorphize this dog and attach your own human narrative to it. You're free to do it, just don't state it as fact.

29 comments