Pound Puppies: Pick of the Litter

PreS-Gr 3—Suspend reality and expect entertainment rather than any sort of education from this collection of episodes. The reincarnation of the 1980s toy-based cartoon features the dogs of Shelter 17 operating in secret tunnels below the shelter, with a computer and magical machinery that has the ability to change a dog's appearance on occasion, for example. The main characters include Lucky, the intrepid alpha; Strudel, the genius; Cookie, the sensible, tough boxer; Niblet, the TV-loving oaf; and Squirt, the Chihuahua. There are also two idiotic humans: shelter manager Leonard McLeish and his inept sidekick, Olaf, who are unaware of the comings and goings and flying car landings that happen under their noses. If there is any message here, it's the value of friendship. Two episodes find dogs giving up fame for friends—when Strudel joins the circus and when Cupcake stars in a TV series. Teamwork is also important, as the dogs find that each has special skills (except for Niblet) that contribute to success. The villains are mildly naughty, like the twin girls who stalk a puppy that looks like a toy dog and the impish boy who makes the puppy walk a dangerous bridge.