Poppy in the Wild

September 1, 2020
When lawyer Rhyne loses her much-loved beagle to lymphoma, she quickly seeks rescue dogs to fill the void. She applies for Poppy, a beagle otherwise doomed to China's dog-meat industry, and while waiting, takes in another beagle to join her other dog at home. Despite Poppy's obvious fears and Rhyne's partner's reluctance, the three dogs get along well, But their lease limits dogs to two. So Rhyne's assistant takes the skittish dog home for a trial run and Poppy escapes into a neighboring wilderness park. Rhyne summons an army of friends to find the lost dog. Plastering neighborhoods with flyers, walking through acres of forests, and flooding social media was only the beginning. Led by two rescue experts, Rhyne stakes out spots where Poppy was sighted and plants rotisserie chicken and her used socks as lures. 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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

August 15, 2020
The search for a beloved lost dog. In her latest, Rhyne, the author of two bestselling books about her love of dogs, tells the story of Poppy the beagle. Since she already owned two dogs at the time, the author planned to foster Poppy, who was rescued from a Chinese dog-meat market, until an appropriate owner could be found. However, from their first meeting, Rhyne was smitten. Sadly, while being watched by others, Poppy escaped and disappeared into a 1,500-acre wilderness park. The author immediately went into rescue mode, doing everything possible to find Poppy before she was hurt or killed. The narrative contains more backstory than necessary, as Rhyne gives minute details of her life with her other dogs, her work, and her husband prior to Poppy's arrival. The particulars of Poppy's disappearance make for faster-paced reading, and the tactics she used to find Poppy will be useful for dog owners in similar situations. In fact, some readers may choose to skip to the final section, "Doggone Helpful Tips for When Your Dog Is Gone," in which the author provides specific, helpful instructions for what to do--and not to do--when searching for a lost dog. Rule 1: "Stop. Stop what you are doing. Stop chasing your dog, stop calling its name. Stop. Know that every part of this will go against your instincts. Your instincts are wrong and are fear-based. Stop and listen to the experts. Your dog's life may depend on it." 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. Readers who are not quite as enthusiastic about dogs--or are seeking a true adventure story--should look elsewhere. A highly detailed account that will be most appreciated by those who enjoyed Rhyne's first two books.

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