Dogs and compost heaps -help!

Ok, so I have tried everything. I'm at my wits end sitting in the emergency vet clinic with my chihuahua who I think had a blockage. She got into the compost heap again!

I can't keep her out. Everything from old leftovers, cardboard, any paper stuff from the house, grass clippings, branches, ect goes in a 15*15 foot area that I have chainlink buried 1ft below ground and going up 4ft. The gate is the only place that there's any break and I buried hardware cloth below that. I bury all food stuffs 2ft down to avoid attracting skunks and racoons. She still gets in and eats the food.

Any recommendations on how to keep her out?

Keep her on a leash when she goes outside.

Little dogs can get through some amazingly small spaces when they want to. If there is a will, there is a way.

You need to walk around the perimeter of the compost area and look for any tiny gaps - up high, down low, in the middle. Close those off however you can.

Your dog may also be able to climb over the chain link. Even if you haven't seen her do it.... Not sure how you'll want to prevent that. Normally, I'd say to string some low-powered electric fence around the perimeter. There are extension insulators that will lock into the mesh "gaps" of chain link. But, if she's a tiny dog, I am not sure electric fence is a totally safe option...

How big is your yard? Do you have enough room to set up an "alarm" around the compost heap so that she gets the cr*p scared outta her and doesn't want to go near it? I've seen motion-sensor audible alarms in some catalogs. But if your yard isn't large enough for it...

You *could* keep her on a leash whenever she's out there, or commit yourself to watching her whenever she's out there. It's not always convenient, but.... (I personally have a 6lb Chihuahua that can only be outdoors on a leash - she can never run free. Even in a dog park - she WILL find an escape route. I won't even board her for fear that she will escape the boarding exercise yard.)