Dora, a 10-month-old black cavoodle, was allegedly untied from a pole on Chapel Street, South Yarra about 3.25pm on Monday 9 March. While her owner browsed the nearby shopping plaza, something every pet owner dreads happened in plain daylight: the puppy vanished.
Three unknown women untied Dora and led her up the road while the puppy's owner was inside the centre. Leading Senior Constable Jody Clayton described it as "the three callous, opportunistic thieves untied Dora as she was tied to a pole outside the centre."
What followed was an anxious 48 hours for the Wong family. Frank Wong's young daughter had been desperately missing her puppy, and she and Dora were like sisters. Since Monday, extensive searches for Dora have taken place, with videos of the puppy and images of three women being widely shared online.
Officers located Dora at a property on Barnett Grove in Noble Park on Wednesday morning, and a 19-year-old Noble Park woman was arrested at the scene. She was charged with theft and bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 28 September 2026.
Dora was uninjured and has been returned to her family. Footage released by police showed the moment Mr Wong was reunited with Dora, who wagged her tail as she was handed back to her grateful owner.
The reunion offered a silver lining to what's become a persistent concern for pet owners. One comment online noted that "sadly gone are the days when you could tie your dog up outside a shop while you ducked in," adding "So glad it's a happy ending for the owners."
Police believe two other female offenders are outstanding at this stage. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.