Dora the Cavoodle has been reunited with her grateful owner after she was allegedly stolen from outside a busy shopping centre.
Frank Wong had tied the 10-month-old black puppy outside the Vogue Shopping Plaza in South Yarra, 5km southeast of Melbourne‘s CBD, about 3.25pm on Monday.
But while he was inside grabbing some groceries, three unknown women untied Dora and allegedly took her.
All three were described as Caucasian, aged in their 20s to 30s, with medium brown hair. The trio were last seen walking along Chapel Street towards Richmond.
On Wednesday afternoon, Victoria Police announced the search for Dora was over, with two women arrested over the alleged abduction.
Officers had located the adorable puppy at a property on Barnett Grove in Noble Park, south-east of Melbourne, just hours earlier.
A 19-year-old Noble Park woman was arrested at the scene. She was taken into custody to be interviewed.
A 27-year-old Richmond woman later self-presented to a police station.
Officers located the adorable puppy (pictured) at a property on Barnett Grove in Noble Park, south-east of Melbourne, on Wednesday morning
Frank Wong was reunited with his family’s beloved puppy Dora on Wednesday
Police released an image of these three females whom they hope can answer some questions about the alleged theft of Dora
‘Dora was uninjured and has been returned to her family,’ a police spokesperson said.
Word of Dora’s rescue has warmed the hearts of Victorians, who have been caught in the middle of a seemingly endless crime wave.
‘Sadly gone are the days when you could tie your dog up outside a shop while you ducked in! So glad it’s a happy ending for the owners,’ one person posted online.
‘We can all breathe a sigh of relief. This is a fantastic outcome,’ another wrote.
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.
‘She must have been so frightened,’ he said as he embraced the pooch.
‘I’m so happy.’
Mr Wong had earlier told reporters he only tied Dora up outside due to store policy.
A woman police wished to speak with over the alleged theft of Dora
Another woman police suspect knows something about the theft of Dora
Police released footage of a woman suspected of being involved in Dora’s alleged abduction
‘Dora was not allowed inside the shopping centre, so I tied her up outside the mall for only about 15 minutes or so,’ he told a press conference.
‘It was utterly awful. We thought we lived in a safe and friendly neighbourhood so to see such an act is very awful.’
Mr Wong said his young daughter had been desperately missing her puppy.
‘She misses Dora very much, they are like sisters,’ he said.
‘[Dora] means so much to her. We are happy to provide a reward, all we want is to have Dora back home with our family.
‘If you want to take her to a vet or a shelter, just hand her over, that would be fine with us as well. Nothing matters more to us than being reunited with Dora.’
