I don't know if you saw the story about the woman who recently adopted 27 dogs from a shelter to prevent them from being euthanized. When I first read it, I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

I'm sure Colleen Spalioni's heart was in the right place. She lost her own dog in November when it was struck and killed by a car, and she wanted to find another that looked just like him. Her Internet search led her to Dogsindanger.com, a site that posts photos of dogs in shelters with the number of days they have left until they are euthanized.

Spalioni, who lives near Reno, hired a teenage neighbor to drive with her almost 800 miles to a shelter near Bakersfield, Calif., where she found a dog that resembled her own. But after seeing so many dogs in need of homes, she just couldn't help herself.

She adopted the dog she wanted - and 26 others, including one Chihuahua, 10 Chihuahua mixes, two German Shepherd mixes, two Miniature Pinschers, a Jack Russell Terrier and a Poodle. She loaded them into her truck and drove home.

Everything would have been fine, except that her new dogs did what dogs normally do. They barked -- so much, in fact, that the neighbors began complaining. And then she was told that a local ordinance allows no more than three dogs per household.

Since then, Spalioni has been looking for new homes for the dogs. So far, she's found places for almost all of them.

And, she said, "I learned my lesson. I promise I won't do this again."

Her concern for the dogs is admirable. I commend her. I'm sure others would love to do the same if they had the space and time to love and care for dogs in need.

But as someone who owns four dogs, I could have told her: It's a lot of work.

Pet Products Review - Happytails Bubbles 'N Beads Shampoo & Conditioner 9oz

The pamplet that came with the product sample sent to me by Happytails Canine Spa Line says: "Inside every mutt there's a mutrosexual just dying to get out".  So I figured what better day to turn my Sheltie Champ into a "muttrosexual" than New Years Eve. With that we tried Happytails' Bubbles 'N Beads Shampoo and Conditioner.

Baths are baths, the experience is never quite fun.  Although this was the first time I've ever used a product with beads in it.  I don't know what the beads do, but it was interesting to watch them dissolve.  The pamphlet says they are "microencapsulated conditioner" which is pretty fancy.  So, the bath is not fun, but the results are.  They should have called Bubbles 'N Beads the "Fluffinator" ! OMG! after Champ dried off, he was a gigantic cute and fluffy monster.  He certainly was clean and his hair very soft.  One thing I liked was that the shampoo did not have an overwhelming perfume as so many of them do.  My one regret was that I did not have a bottle of Happytails' Shimmering Mist to give his bath that extra glimmer.

So as a shampoo I totally recommend Happytails Bubbles 'N Beads.  For ordering, go to www.happytailsspa.com.  At $17 for a 9oz bottle, this is a luxury pet spa product.  But knowing that Happytails at a company only uses the very best ingredients and upholds the higest possible environmental, social and ethical standards, and made in the USA, its worth it.

If you've got a product you think will pass the Secret Shopper test, send an email to SecretShopperBlog@gmail.com

This question came as a comment from the following post.

DECEMBER 27, 2008, 8:57 AM

My rescue dog is a large German Shepherd surrendered to a shelter by her owner in California. She is a good dog and smart but has never been trained. She had a computer name only so does not know her new name. I want her to come when I call her. She has never had treats. She takes them then drops them. I take her and my other rescue dog on walks on a leash but can not trust either to come back if they were loose. Any ideas. Thanks.

For your rescue GS I would recommend the following:

Here's proof that you can teach a dog to do anything -- even steal:

In Murray, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City, a pooch (not the one pictured here) was caught on surveillance video shoplifting a bone from the pet food aisle at a supermarket. And he got away, to boot.

"I looked at him. I said, ‘Drop it!'" store manager Roger Adamson told KSL-TV. "He looked at me, and I looked at him, and he ran for the door and away he went, right out the front door."

It was a small-time heist -- the bone cost $2.79 -- but the dog clearly had his caper well planned out. On the video, he makes a beeline for aisle 16, snatches the bone and makes a fast escape.

As far as anyone knows, he's still on the lamb.

Pets Prodcuts Review - Catswell VitaKitty Chicken Brest treats

My cat Stinky is notoriously finicky when it comes to food, especially cat treats.  We've tried nearly every treat we run into, and always searching for more.  This week's trial was with a company I've reviewed before Catswell.  They have a unique treat that looks like small moist and meaty strips of succulent chicken Breast.  It goes by the name VitaKitty. 

I couldn't wait to try this treat, because its more than a treat, its a supplemented nutritional food item that is packed with flaxseed oil, vitamins and vitamin E to help maintain eyes, skin and coat.  The concept of combining reward with healthy nutrition always appeals to me.  To boot, I know the that Catswell assures that no hormones, antibiotics, fillers or byproducts are used.

Unfortunately, Stinky did not care for this treat.  I tried over three days, and each time he rejected it.  But hey, that is only my cat.  My dog Champ, he loved them.  Try them with your cat first.  Go to www.catswell.com for information and to order.  If you don't see them in your local store, contact the website and have a sample sent to you.  At $3.99 for 2oz, you want to be somewhat frugel.

If you've got a product that you think will pass the Secret Shopper Test, send an email to SecretShopperBlog@gmail.com