Poppy in the Wild

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

Teresa J. Rhyne

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.

Teresa Rhyne is the #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of The Dog Lived (and So Will I) and its sequel The Dogs Were Rescued (and So Was I), which was awarded the Pat Santi Memorial Friend of Animals Award by the Dog Writers Association of America. She was awarded The Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian of the Year by the Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center in 2008 and lives in Los Angeles with her beagles.

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Endorsements & Reviews

“Teresa J. Rhyne is the best kind of person, a dog person. 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, ‘a real treat!’" W. Bruce Cameron, #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose

Teresa 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. 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. 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