Adoption Tales (Animal Planet)

Parents need to know that this series tells the true stories of homeless pets -- mostly dogs -- who find loving owners and warm homes. The animals' stories can be heartbreaking and often involve abandonment or physical abuse (it's described in detail, which may be difficult for younger viewers or tender-hearted kids to hear). Also, many of the featured animal rescue programs connect the rescued pets with kids and adults who are experiencing hardships, such as institutional living or jail time. Still, for school-aged kids, there's a lot of learning potential here about the social, health, and economic issues related to animals and pet ownership.