The plight of dogs in the United States is, at times, heartbreaking. So many dogs are lost, abandoned, treated like disposable toys or abused -- it's a wonder sometimes that shelters aren't more crowded than they are. But, of course, they are plenty crowded as it is, and it's important that people understand the vital services that shelters and rescue groups provide, as well as the reasons people should adopt dogs from those agencies rather than helping puppy mills and factory breeders to profit off their unsavory practices.

Raymond Bial's Rescuing Rover: Saving America's Dogs is an excellent way to expose readers to the issues. Suitable for adults, it also is written at a level that children can understand. I read this book over several nights to my children and, while at first they were mostly captivated by the photos, they soon became very concerned about the problems Bial was discussing.

The book explains clearly the roots of the pet overpopulation problem in America, introduces readers to some of the big animal welfare organizations that are fighting the problem and discusses how shelters work. It doesn't pull punches when blunt honesty is needed; the book touches on the harsh realities of puppy mills and acknowledges the need sometimes to euthanize dogs in a shelter setting.

But it also offers hope, spotlighting some happy endings for dogs and giving credit to shelters, shelter employees and volunteers, animal welfare officers and foster homes for the good work they do.

My children, just shy of 8 years old, were very interested in learning more about the issues, and they had a lot of questions ... as well as ideas -- often not practical, but certainly well-intended -- for doing more work to help dogs in need. Rescuing Rover is an excellent book to help children -- and adults -- understand a complex topic.