My Pittie Kosmo likes to get into everything. He used to open my fridge door and help himself to the food in the fridge...hehehe. All you would see was a black but sticking out of the fridge...hehehe. For the fridge I bought a child lock, so now he can't get into that. He used to also get into the garbage that i had in my cupboard, under the kitchen sink. He would open the door and help himself once again. Now I have child locks on my cupboards as well. My house is all child proof but not for my child for my pittie Kosmo...heheh. But its all worth it. If Mercedes keeps her snooping up, you could always put child locks. That's how i solved my problem.

Hope this helps you a little bit.