I know what it's like to lose a dog. It happened to me - and to my family - when I was a teenager and Goldie, our standard Poodle, ran away. We looked for her in animal shelters, ran ads in newspapers, put up fliers in our town and surrounding areas. After several months of searching every day after school and on weekends, we lost hope.

One year later, almost to the day she disappeared, our veterinarian called and said he believed he had found her. Someone brought in a scruffy, filthy apricot-colored Poodle, and the ID on her collar listed him as the vet. He called us.

It was Goldie, all right. We thought we would never see her again, but there she was in our vet's office looking scared and uncertain. I can't describe how happy we were.

Those memories came rushing back when I read the story about Muffy, a Terrier mix on the east coast of Australia who went missing for nine years. Nine years! The other day, she was reunited with her family in Queensland.

RSPCA Australia heard about the dog from someone who had seen her living in a suburban backyard in Melbourne. But she looked sickly, so the person called the organization.

"We found her living in pretty awful conditions on a piece of cardboard," RSPCA inspector Gail Coulter (pictured above with Muffy) told the Times newspaper. "She had matted hair and was riddled with fleas and had a really severe dermatitis condition."

A welfare agency discovered that Muffy had a microchip and traced her to the Lampard family, which had purchased another dog, named Jack, after giving up hope of finding Muffy. But Jack died four months ago.

"I just couldn't believe it. It's absolutely amazing," Natalie Lampard told the Times.  "I told my daughter Chloe and she was just over the moon. She can't wait to see Muffy again."

The dog will need continued care for her skin condition, but after a 1,250-mile odyssey and almost a decade on her own, she's clearly none the worse for wear.

Oh, the stories she could tell.

The tragic story about the 150 dogs that were found dead in a Dearborn, Mich., house last week keeps getting worse. On Monday, city animal control officers found six more dead dogs.

The man who owned the dogs, 56-year-old Kenneth Lang Jr., was under psychiatric evaluation this week, although his lawyer said he should not face criminal charges.

"He didn't abuse these animals," attorney James Schmier said. "They were abused because of the environment they all were living in -- Kenneth included -- but they were relatively healthy. They weren't malnourished.

"He considered them his family."

Even so, it's clear the dogs were not properly cared for. When officers found them, they were in a house filled with feces and debris. More than 100 dogs, mostly Chihuahua and Chihuahua mixes, were found alive and are considered adoptable by the Dearborn Animal Shelter.

The best part of this story is that people are stepping forward to adopt the dogs who survived. In fact, the animal shelter said it had stopped accepting applications for adoptions.

Pet Products Review - Blue Ribbon Housetraing Pads, 32 count

So, no that I have a puppy, I get to test all of the puppy products.  Most important on my list at this stage, house training pads.  Also known as wee wee or pee pee pads.  The last review of pads was a super economical brand I bought at Walmart.  This time, also sticking to Walmart's selection was Blue Ribbon Deluxe Housetraining Pads, 32 count.   The price was about 30% more than the super economical brand.  But was it worth it?

Well... the size of the pads are the same.  I do like how the pads look just like diapers being all white.  Personally I think they smell a little better than the others.  And they are made in the USA ! Big plus in my book. 

What did my puppy think?  he used them the same as the super economy brand.  I don't think they were more attractive to him what so ever. 

One downside is that the plastic seems to repel pee more than the super economy brands.  With that I did notice that the pads seemed a little more wet than the economy ones.  But, that could be because my puppy is growing and hence peeing more.

Anyway, if aesthetics are important to you, spend the additional 30% for Blue Ribbon.  If not, go with the super economical brand.  They both work great.  Blue Ribbon is available exclusively at Walmart.  Prices vary from store to store.

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

Here is a story that I heard happened not far from me in New York City.  A wedding couple foolishly thought that realeasing albino doves at their wedding was a sign of love, prosperity and best wishes.  No people!  Its the sign of stupidity.  Albino Doves that you find in pet stores are not wild and can not take care of themselves.  In most cases these poor birds end up scared and starving or the meal of preditors. 

Lucky for some benevolent bird watchers, the birds in New York were saved and now being nursed back to health.  Here is the full story from the New York Post:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07282009/news/regionalnews/tragic_doves_left_at_altar_181723.htm

Remember people, animals are living creatures and never to be used as props or for entertainment.  Just ask Mr. Vick.

Pet Products Review - Jr. Tuff Peanut Butter Balls

So in my basket of puppy goodies that I bought the first day I got Charlie one of MY favorites were Jr. Tuff Peanut Butter Balls.  No, they are not candied bon bons, but small petit sized tennis balls with an essence of peanut butter. 

Jr. Peanut Butter Balls are heavy duty tennis balls made especially for little dogs and flavored with natural peanut and other flavorings that taste great and neutralize doggie breath. They are non-toxic and colorfast. Made with a special felt that is less abrasive. This helps prevent dogs from wearing down their teeth while playing fetch. Pack includes a pair of 1.8" diameter balls.

I think they are adorable and sure your little pup will love them too.  You can find them at PetGuys.com for only $1.98 per pack of 2:  http://www.petguys.com/-713080700180.html

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