Four puppies allegedly stolen in a home invasion have been recovered after Queensland police worked through the night to reunite them with their mother.
Four people have been charged after the two-week-old golden retrievers were taken from a residence near Cairns in the state's far north along with a car and jewellery on Wednesday, police said.
Senior Sergeant Kristy Place said officers were relentless in their search for the newborns, describing it as a "race against time".
"They obviously needed the nourishment from mum so it was really important ... to return these puppies," she told reporters.
"(Police) got the scent and they were hot on the heels of these offenders."
One of the puppies was found with a 16-year-old boy at a Woree residence about 10pm on Wednesday, police said.
About 2am on Thursday, another newborn was discovered hidden under a bed at an Edmonton home.
The remaining puppies were found at two nearby homes on Thursday morning, police said.
"The officers worked through the night following leads, chasing inquiries," Sen Sgt Place said.
"They were really quite motivated to get these puppies back.
"You go to a new level when you steal someone's puppies."
All the newborns were found unharmed and healthy.
They have been returned to a happy mum and a teary owner.
"We had officers working long, long hours to follow up these enquiries," Sen Sgt Place said.
"I think a lot of the officers of the tactical crime squad are big puppy dogs themselves - they are all puppy lovers.
"So they were stoked to be involved in the investigation, more stoked to have gotten those puppies back."
Four people have been charged including three boys - two 16-year-olds and another aged 17.
They were remanded in custody after being refused bail, police said.
