Bayley Carr said Cutie Pie was taken from her vehicle in the South Dunedin Pak'nSave car park about 3.30pm on Friday, which she described as "gutting’".
Her family was shopping in the supermarket and son Tobey (12) was popping out every five to 10 minutes to check on Cutie Pie.
But when he accidentally left the car unlocked, an unknown person took Cutie Pie and left a note written on a brown envelope.
The note accused the Carrs of being bad dog owners because they had left the puppy in the car on a hot day.
Ms Carr said Cutie Pie was supplied with water but the puppy had accidentally knocked it over.
If bystanders had concerns, she believed they could have raised the alarm rather than commit theft.
She spoke with supermarket staff, called the Dunedin City Council and the SPCA. She also notified police.
Mrs Carr was at a loss for what to do until she received a message yesterday telling her Cutie Pie had been found safe and sound in Corstorphine.
The identity of the dognapper was unknown, but Ms Carr was just glad Cutie Pie had been returned.
The puppy was hungry and was pleased to be home among her litter-mates and with her mother.
Cutie Pie was a runt and had a friendly, outgoing temperament.
Ms Carr’s sons Ollie (6) and Tobey were very excited and had not let Cutie Pie out of their sight since they were reunited, she said.
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I am glad the puppy was returned, but it is a warning that you should NEVER leave a dog in a car alone on a hot day. A dog can die in 10 mins, even 5 mins. Their internal temperatures are much higher than a humans and when the car heats up this can cause stress and heart failure.