Cavoodle puppy Dora captured hearts after she was taken from a pole she was tied to while her owner did the grocery shopping in South Yarra about 3.25pm on Monday.
A desperate plea for the dog’s safe return followed, after CCTV footage showed three women leading Dora away.
“Since Monday, extensive searches for Dora have taken place, with videos of the puppy and images of three women being widely shared online,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
A call to Crime Stoppers by a member of the public led police to a home in Noble Park this morning.
Dora was found at the home, nearly 30 kilometres from where she was taken, police allege.
A 19-year-old woman was arrested in the Barnett Grove home and has since been charged with theft.
The Noble Park woman was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 28.
A 27-year-old Richmond woman handed herself into police this afternoon.
She was interviewed and released pending further enquiries.
Police are still searching for a third woman, who is described as Caucasian, aged in her 20s, with long brown hair.
She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and Adidas-branded tracksuit pants.
Owner Frank Wong told media today his young family had been through ” a rollercoaster of emotions” over the last 48 hours.
“So much fear and dread,” Wong said.
“There was a rising tide of support from everyone involved here, so I think that kept our hopes up night by night.”
A vet has checked Dora’s health and she’s now back in the loving arms of four-year-old Clare.
“It was just outstanding happiness to have her back,” Wong said.
“She was a bit afraid still, which is understandable after everything she’s gone through, but as soon as we got home she was already playing.”
Wong said Dora was “almost like a sister” to his daughter.
“I think in dog years she’s pretty much the same age as my daughter, which is why they get along so well,” he said.
“I imagine they’ll be in each other’s arms for much of the rest of the night.”
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
