Telling Buddy's story in Rescue Pup creates in readers, young and old, an awareness of our system of rescuing animals that can't fend for themselves. Buddy is abandoned in an empty house and breaks free, only to be faced with many dangers on his own. He eventually finds himself in an overcrowded shelter where he fears he will never be noticed and adopted. It is worth reading time and again to our children. This story builds character as it deals with concepts like responsibility, friendship, and love. Young readers benefit from early exposure to these virtues. In Rescue Pup, these concepts are presented naturally in the course of the story so children can easily grasp them. Perhaps what gives the story its greatest impact is that it is based on a true story. The 'real' Buddy was abandoned as a pup until he was rescued by someone who heard his cries. What makes it important is that what happened to Buddy happens all too often in our modern world. That's why this simple book is also a very important one. As we teach our children how to responsibly care for the animals put into our charge, we begin to create a future in which pets do not need to go through what Buddy did.