The footage shows the sausage dog walking inside a carefully prepared trap, filled with Valerie’s toys and clothing from her owners.

Unfortunately the trap door can’t be closed remotely so the dog was able to walk out and it is yet to be reunited with owners Josh and Georgia, who are adamant it is their beloved pet. 

“I was sitting there in bed one night, just going through old photos and comparing all her little marks and everything and being like ‘it’s 100 per cent her’,” Josh said.

The search for Valerie has garnered international attention, with her story featured in major newspapers and social media users commenting from New Zealand, the Netherlands, and the United States. 

The increased awareness has brought hope to the rescue team, who believe it could lead to more resources and donations for their efforts.

“The more information that’s out there about Val, the more resources they can get, the more donations they get towards the work they’re doing,” Georgia said.

The search team is planning to install a mechanism that will allow the trap door to be closed remotely by the end of this week.