Michelle Kennedy, 45, now of Barkly Street, Warrnambool, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to trespass, theft and unlicensed driving.

Police said Kennedy was living in Ararat at the start of April and started communicating through email to buy a pup from a breeder in Koroit.

She wanted a bitch and was referred to a breeder in Maryborough and bought a pup for $1500 which died. She had pet insurance.

At the start of August Kennedy sent further emails about buying a pup to the Koroit breeder but pups the breeder had were already all spoken for.

On September 9 Kennedy drove to Koroit from Ararat. 

At 2pm she parked in the breeder's driveway but drove off when the victim appeared.

At 3.15pm Kennedy parked up the road and waited, arousing the suspicion of an off-duty police officer who rang the Koroit police. 

A car checked revealed Kennedy was from Ararat. 

Kennedy drove back to Koroit the next day and when the victim went to collect her children from school at 3.30pm, Kennedy entered the property dressed in a black hooded top and took a pup.

She was seen by a neighbour and drove off at a fast speed, dumping the puppy on the side of a road.

The neighbour and daughter followed Kennedy in and around Koroit trying to get a registration plate and then approached Kennedy and challenged her about taking a puppy. 

The pup was located by council workers and returned. 

Kennedy said it was all a big misunderstanding.