Lauren Vancouver, director of HotRescues, an outstanding animal rescue shelter, is helping out her boss, Dante, by looking out for his interests in a movie being made about abused dogs -- in this case runaway poodles. Also on the movie set and looking out for the animals' rights is a representative from the American Humane Association, Grant Jefferly. His recommendation decides if the movie will be awarded the coveted "No Animals Were Harmed" designation.

All is going well until the movie's director wants to film a scene of the runaway poodles in actual, but controlled, traffic. There is a heated discussion about ensuring the dogs' welfare between the director Hans Marford; Carlie Stellan, a veterinarian; and Grant, so filming is suspended for the day. During the night Hans Marford is killed in a hit and run incident. Because she was so upset with Marford the day before, Lauren's friend and colleague, Carlie, is the prime suspect. Carlie wants Lauren's promise that she will find the guilty person since Lauren has successfully solved other crimes. Our amateur sleuth has no choice but to help her friend. Lauren knows that this will not sit well with her boyfriend, Matt Kingston, an officer with the L. A. Animal Services. Lauren has put herself in danger before, and Matt really wants her to let the police do their job without her.

Lauren decides to ask a few questions about the murder victim and pass on anything useful to the police. However, her questions bring trouble to her and to HotRescues, and a big disappointment to Matt. Looks like Lauren will be trying to save her relationship with Matt and protect herself from the killer before this is all over. OODLES OF POODLES is great fun and a clever mystery.