Poppy in the Wild: A Lost Dog, Fifteen Hundred Acres of Wilderness, and the Dogged Determination that Brought Her Home
Poppy in the Wild: A Lost Dog, Fifteen Hundred Acres of Wilderness, and the Dogged Determination that Brought Her Home book cover

Poppy in the Wild: A Lost Dog, Fifteen Hundred Acres of Wilderness, and the Dogged Determination that Brought Her Home

Hardcover – October 6, 2020

Price
$11.00
Format
Hardcover
Pages
304
Publisher
Pegasus Books
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1643135427
Dimensions
6 x 1.3 x 9 inches
Weight
15.3 ounces

Description

“Teresaxa0J.xa0Rhyne is the best kind of person, a dog person.xa0xa0 In this beautiful, honestly told memoir, she leads us through an adventure that will inspire any dog lover. A life-affirming read, or as any dog would say if they could speak,xa0‘a real treat!’" -- W. Bruce Cameron, #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling author of A Dog's PurposeTeresa Rhyne's books about dogs always leave the heart feeling warm, but this one also leaves the soul feeling especially full. Poppy in the Wild is about far more than the usual bond between a person and a pup.xa0 It's ultimately a lesson in the true meaning of the word commitment, and a story about the very best of humanity in a time of crisis." -- Kim Kavin, author of THE DOG MERCHANTS"If I come back in another life, I want to return as one of Teresa Rhyne's beloved beagles so I can bask in her love and devotion and dedication.xa0 This is a love story first and foremost, but it's also an invaluable resource about waht to do (and what not to do) if your four-legged companion goes missing." -- Peter Zheutlin, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of RESCUE ROAD and THE DOG WENT OVER THE MOUNTAIN"Delightful. Teresa's writing is imbued with humor. Poppy in the Wild is a wonderful, heartwarming read. You will love meeting Teresa and will want to take her out for a drink. Maybe you will even want to adopt a beagle. But, as she points out, there are countless dogs and cats in need of foster homes and adoptive families. There’s even one waiting for a home near you." -- Pamela Kramer ― Book Reporter "A heartfelt story that highlights the powerful bond that can exist between humans and animals, while reminding readers how emotinoally rewarding the self-less act of rescuing dogs from shelters and other bad circumstances can be." -- Joel McGee, Former Animal Planet Development Executive and Executive Producer of the CBS TV Show, "Lucky Dog""For anyone who loves dogs as much as Rhyne and thinks sharing a bed with a beagle is heaven, this often tender story will hold great appeal...A highly detailed account that will be most appreciated by those who enjoyed Rhyne’s first two books." ― Kirkus Reviews Rhyne is a quirky narrator with her own issues and an overwhelming passion for dogs, especially beagles. As she records Poppy’s adventures, she also shares valuable information on finding lost pets. Dog lovers will root for this tiny beagle and her devoted seeker. ― Booklist “…Poppy will have you laughing out loud, raging at the perpetrators of such cruelty, and desperately seeking out a pup to apologize to for human behavior.” ― Cellar Door Books Teresa Rhynexa0is an animal advocate and breast cancer survivor. She lives in the Los Angeles area with herxa0beagles andxa0is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Dog Lived (And So Will I) and The Dogs Were Rescued (And So Was I).

Features & Highlights

  • From the #1
  • New York TImes
  • bestselling author of
  • The Dog Lived (And So WIll I)
  • comes a tale of love and devotion defying all the odds.
  • After losing her beloved beagle Daphne to lymphoma, author Teresa Rhyne launches herself into fostering other dogs in need, including Poppy, a small, frightened beagle rescued from the China dog meat trade. The elation of rescue quickly turns to hysteria when Poppy breaks free from a potential adopter during a torrential thunderstorm and disappears into a rugged, mountainous, 1,500 acre wilderness park, bordered by a busy road. In the quest to find Poppy, Teresa will work with rescue specialists, volunteers, psychics, a Native American who communes with owls, helpful neighbors, decidedly unhelpful strangers, a howling woman, the police, crushing dead ends, glimmers of hope, and her own emotional and physical limits as she sits in the wind and rain in the wilderness park for hours each dusk and dawn with bags of roasted chicken and her dirty socks, the human lure for a terrified beagle and packs of less terrified coyotes.   Meanwhile, Poppy encounters heavy rains, a homeless encampment, the Sheriff and his wife, a series of strangers, speeding traffic, hawks, and, ultimately, a world of people willing to do anything to protect rather than harm her. Through an unexpected late night encounter, Poppy is finally caught.  After her time in the wild, a surprisingly transformed Poppy reunites with Teresa. Now newly confident and brave Poppy is ready to be welcomed into her forever home.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(146)
★★★★
25%
(61)
★★★
15%
(37)
★★
7%
(17)
-7%
(-17)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Excellent read

Teresa has a writing style that speaks to the reader. I dreaded reading the portion of the story when Poppy was lost, but her honest writing style and knowing that there was a happy outcome I was able to get through it. A must read for anyone who loves animals and especially dogs. Great introduction on how to handle the never expected lost dog scenario. Reading and studying the tips for finding lost pets will help anyone when the unfortunate event happens near you or to you. I am so glad this woman who speaks to my inner self has written all of her three books. Waiting for her next inspiration.
3 people found this helpful
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Not Disappointing - Continue to Be an Enthralled Fan

Nothing to dislike with Ryne from her first bestseller to this, opening her own personal heart to the reader while the reader also becomes a page-turner. praying Poppy gets home. You don’t have to be a dog-lover to say this book rocks. Ryne shares a lot of her self, opening up deep insights into her own identity and fears-something most of us are reluctant to dol. Step-by-step, we also learn what to do and NOT to do when your pet is lost. I have had many rescued and foster dogs in my house, thought I was educated when it came to canines, yet I never realized the “mentality of a lost dog” that is needed when rescuing your wandering pet! Thank you Teresa for another best-seller in my opinion. Thank you for sharing and thank you for caring!
1 people found this helpful
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Love is Hilarious--and educational, too!

Some books are for particular audiences, but Poppy in The Wild is a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys a good romp set in a world that many of us don't even know exists: the world of dog fostering.

The combination of a pacey, real-life account of "temporarily" fostering Poppy, a dog recently saved from animal testing labs in China, and the adventures that ensue when Poppy manages to escape into the wilds of Los Angeles make for a gripping, heartfelt, and hilarious read.

This book is pretty much the poster child for "edutainment": I always worry that animal books are going to be some version of tragedy, but Teresa Rhyne makes entry into the world of dog fostering and adoption into something between comedy and farce--with heart and laughs made all the more resonant for the sincere love and respect Rhyne doesn't quite manage to keep hidden underneath the slapstick, humorous tone.

Rhyne is obviously both a capable and very empathetic person, but she balances the serious side of her dedication to fostering lab dogs (in her case, specifically, beagles) with a fabulously wry, dry, sarcastic, and insightful wit. She takes her work seriously, her dogs seriously, and her relationships with the humans in her life seriously--but she doesn't take herself too seriously. Rhyne possesses a charming self-awareness that made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion: as a narrator, she's smart, she's impulsive, loving, and owns her flaws, whether with the people or the dogs in her life. (In fact, I kind of wish I could sign up for text-exchanges between her and Chris, her husband, who knows exactly how to help her with reality checks and cheer her on at the same time. He's got such a gift for resigned hilarity--they're quite the entertaining couple.)

I thought I knew a bit about dogs and dog training, but fostering is clearly a next-level exercise in empathy and patience. In fact, my favorite aspect of the book was getting to "see" both the gently absurd antics of dogs and people as they try to figure each other out, as well as the truly helpful information provided about fostering, adopting, and finding lost dogs--especially traumatized dogs. A foster dog is not the same as bringing home a rescue, as the early chapters make clear. I learned so much--and I'm sure my own dog is grateful. Time spent with Teresa Rhyne, Chris, Poppy, and the rescue-family networks they encounter along the story is time well spent! Plus there are color photos and a terrific appendix that tells the reader "how to" foster or find dogs. I'm not usually a memoir reader, and I tend to shy away from anything that might end up sad concerning pets, but this book was incredibly entertaining, and incredibly educational. Highly recommended.
1 people found this helpful
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Beautiful story and great reference!

I loved the story of Poppy. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s sense of humor and her partner’s sweet support of her needs. I loved that Poppy ended up being adopted by the people she obviously loved! Also, the directions on how to find a lost pet should I ever lose my dog will be forever relevant and I’ll keep the book as a reference.
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Perfect quality

Perfect quality, quick delivery.
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The first part of the book is mostly interesting, then it drags

I usually love books about dogs, I really do. So I was eager to read this one, and the first half of the story was pretty good, although I felt that even that was padded out with excess detail. Then it just drags. I doubt I'm going to finish it because I've become so bored.
✓ Verified Purchase

Amazing book and love it!

This book has been great very heart felt and great!
✓ Verified Purchase

Gripping story full of useful information

An extremely well-written and often humorous account of one woman’s experience fostering a Beagle rescued from the China dog meat trade. Poppy was an escape artist and plied her trade when placed with a dog sitter for the weekend. She slipped out of her harness and darted into a nearby 1500-acre wilderness park in California. Dozens of people joined the search for Poppy, who was fearful and fast. Scientific dog behavior steps were followed to eventually reunite Poppy with her foster mom, but the process defies traditional logic. The appendix contains valuable information for anyone whose pet has gone missing.
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Found!

Well written, moves right along, makes sense.
✓ Verified Purchase

A good read for pet lovers

This is a touching story of people who love their furry family members. I can relate to the experiences in this book. Teresa is down-to-earth and real. I love her writing style. I will be loaning out my copy to all of my pet loving friends!