Many people dream of a magic reset button. With one touch, it would instantly change their circumstances and create a more fulfilling life. What they don’t realize is that life provides plenty of opportunities to change direction, but few of us heed the signs showing us the way. For workaholic entrepreneurs Jim and Rene, their sign came as a cancer diagnosis. After growing their home-based business for ten years, their heart and soul dog, Jerry, had a front leg amputated because of bone cancer. Vets said their time together was running out. They decided to make the most of it. Acting quickly, they sold their home, their business, and nearly everything they owned. They bought a new RV and made Jerry a promise: “Stay with us long enough, and we’ll take you on the road trip of a lifetime!”
By the time they hit the road to travel the country together as a pack, Jerry had already outlived his original prognosis. Their RV travels took them from northern California through the southwest desert, to the Atlantic coast in Maine, down to Florida and back to the top of the world in the Rocky Mountains. For two years they experienced many adventures, with Jerry leading the way and showing the world that it’s better to hop on three legs than to limp on four. Their nomadic lifestyle breathed new life into the happy dog, who generously shared important life lessons along the way. Once they opened their eyes to how he lived each day to the fullest, everything looked different. Their reset button was pressed.
Be More Dog is more than a memoir about a threelegged dog on an epic road trip. This book is a heartwarming tale with deep meaning. Through his actions and attitude in the face of adversity, Jerry shows Jim and Rene how important it is to live in the now – to persevere when the going gets tough, to never give up, and that every day is a great day, no matter what life throws your way.
Features Jerry’s story, as seen in Nature: Why We Love Cats and Dogs which first aired on PBS in 2009. Includes Foreword and original artwork by MUTTS creator Patrick Mc Donnell, with scenes describing his famous ‘NOW! NOW! NOW!’ strip that played a vital role in helping Jim and Rene discover the importance of living in the Now.
Table of Content
ABOUT THIS BOOK . . . iii
DEDICATION (MUTTS Title Panel) . . . v
FOREWORD (by Patrick Mc Donnell) . . . vii
INTRODUCTION: Why We Love Cats and Dogs . . . 1
1. The Happy Threesome . . . 7
2. Who Is Raising Whom? . . . 19
3. The CFO Years . . . 29
4. Life Takes a Turn . . . 41
5. The Persistent Limp . . . 49
6. Cancer Comes Calling . . . 55
7. The New Normal . . . 69
8. Moving On . . . 81
9. Hitting the Road, Back to Life . . . 91
10. Making Friends Everywhere . . . 101
11. Cool It . . . 107
12. Crossing the Mississippi . . . 119
13. Tripawds Coast to Coast . . . 127
14. Celebrations . . . 143
15. Life and Death on the Farm . . . 153
16. Following Their Passion . . . 163
17. Now What? . . . 173
18. Living in the Now! . . . 183
19. The Truth, and Consequences . . . 197
20. Onward, and Upward . . . 207
21. Ranch Life . . . 215
22. On the Road Again . . . 231
23. Keeping Promises . . . 241
24. Knowing When to Say When . . . 251
25. Signs . . . 261
26. Walking the Talk . . . 267
EPILOGUE: How to Be More Dog . . . 269
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: . . . 275
RESOURCES . . . 277
About the author
In his previous life, Jim was a marketing communications manager and expert graphic designer specializing in publication design, corporate identity materials, and marketing collateral. After doing time in the tech industry during its heyday, Jim married Rene Agredano and escaped the rat race to start their own design and marketing firm, Agreda Communications. Today, Jim has become a Word Press multisite expert, managing the largest online community for three legged pets and their people at tripawds.com, hosting more than 1, 500 blogs with 14, 000+ members and growing.
Jim Nelson and Rene Agredano are a married couple who live, work and write from the road in their RV. Their nomadic life began in 2007, when they sold their home, business and nearly everything they owned to travel with their terminally-ill dog, Jerry.
Given just a few months to live after his leg amputation, Jerry’s bone cancer diagnosis at age eight turned their lives upside down and around. But against all odds, Jerry defied the bleak prognosis. He enjoyed two unforgettable years hopping along on three legs, from coast-to-coast and back again. Wherever he went, his joyful nature inspired others to look beyond adversity and embrace the present moment.
The trio founded Tripawds.com, the world’s largest support community for three legged pets and their people. Later in 2014 they formed the non-profit Tripawds Foundation to aid amputee pets. The couple continues managing Tripawds and chronicling their travels at liveworkdream.com.
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