The Otago Daily Times was alerted to the latest canine caper by Constable Tracey Bransgrove, of North Dunedin.
Const Bransgrove said a "tiny, extremely cute" puppy, worth $850, had been dog-napped on Sunday morning from the puppy enclosure at Pet Planet, in Northeast Valley.
The only description of a possible offender was a man seen before the dog was taken; a "medium-sized, average male" wearing a dark jacket.
But Pet Planet assistant manager Simon Brown said, when contacted shortly after, the dog had been found back in the enclosure early on Monday.
Mr Brown said someone may have mentioned to the puppy-napper the dog was microchipped, and that the game would be up if it was ever lost or taken to a veterinarian.
The puppy was yesterday happy with its new owner, Tina Shepherd, who bought it shortly after its misadventure.
Rather than showing any signs of trauma, the as yet unnamed animal was putting all its energy into chewing fingers and licking anything in sight.
The only issue was its pedigree: it was supposed to be a bichon frise but looked more like a Japanese chin, Ms Shepherd said.
It is not the first time dogs have been taken from Pet Planet.
In 2006, Staffordshire bull terrier puppies were stolen from the business, though they were later recovered and the offenders apprehended by police.
On Monday, a Staffordshire-cross puppy stolen from the Otago SPCA kennels was found safe and well after an alert reader recognised him from his picture in the Otago Daily Times.
