Official Be More Dog Press Release Announcement

Our official book launch announcement would not be complete without an official Be More Dog Press Release!

Download the Be More Dog Press Release here in PDF format, or read it below for details about the new book from Tripawds Founders Rene Agredano and Jim Nelson.

Please visit the Media page for author bios and other media resources.

Learn to Be More Dog and Live in the Now

A terminally-ill dog loses a limb but not his purpose while teaching his people hard-won lessons on the road to awareness.

LIVINGSTON, TX (OCTOBER 7, 2019): If your beloved dog needed a leg amputation and only had six months to live, what would you do? Would you walk away from everything you knew to give your best friend the life he deserved? One Northern California couple said “Yes!” and in return, their three-legged co-pilot taught them to tackle life’s toughest challenges with grace, gratitude and love. Throughout two amazing years traveling the country together as a pack in a new RV, Jerry showed Jim and Rene how to Be More Dog.

“You never think that a cancer diagnosis can be a blessing. We didn’t, not even on the day we set out for our ‘one year’ road trip,” says Jerry’s Mom, Rene Agredano. “But the first time we saw our happy three-legged dog splashing in the Atlantic Ocean, we felt an awareness in our hearts that was completely absent in our previous life. This was a dog who didn’t care that cancer would take his life. He was just happy that we were together, outside and having fun instead of sitting at our computers wasting a perfectly good day. Our dog and his cancer diagnosis woke us up to what life is all about.”

Cancer Showed Them How to Be More Dog

Many people dream of a magic reset button to instantly change their circumstances and create a more fulfilling life. For workaholic entrepreneurs Jim Nelson and Rene Agredano, their reset button arrived when their heart and soul dog, Jerry, lost a leg to bone cancer. Vets said his time was running out, so they decided to make the most of it. They sold their home, their business, and nearly everything they owned. Then they bought a 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, Jerry had already outlived the grim prognosis.

Their travels took them from California through the Southwest, to the Atlantic coast, down to Florida and to the top of the Rocky Mountains. For two years Jerry led the way, showing the world that it’s better to hop on three legs than to limp on four. The trip breathed new life into Jerry, 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 three-legged dog on an epic road trip. It is a mantra to live by, and this book is the guide. It’s a heartwarming, sometimes bittersweet tale filled with deep meaning. Through his actions and attitude in the face of adversity, Jerry demonstrates how to persevere when things get tough, to never give up, and that every day is a great day, no matter what life throws your way.

Advance Praise for the Authors

“I love that they got in the RV and did it for their dog, Jerry.”
— Oprah Winfrey (The Gayle King Show, May 2010)

“I think what y’all are doing is great.”
— Dave Ramsey (The Dave Ramsey Show, September 2012)

“This powerful book is a love note to all who have had the honor and joy to share the companionship of a beloved dog.”
– Patrick McDonnell (MUTTS Creator)

Foreword by MUTTS Creator Patrick McDonnell

Be More Dog features a Foreword and original artwork by MUTTS® creator Patrick McDonnell. Readers will enjoy the title panel he created depicting Jerry alongside his famed lead characters Earl and Mooch, and discover his 2008 “NOW! NOW! NOW!” strip that touched Jim and Rene right when they needed it most.

The book delves deep into Jerry’s story, as seen in “Nature: Why We Love Cats and Dogs” which first aired on PBS in 2009. During the episode, Jim explains the MUTTS strip that had so much meaning for them after discovering Jerry’s cancer had returned.

Chat with the Authors

Want to interview Jim and Rene? Here are some questions to consider:

What are the three most important lessons that Jerry taught you?
How will Be More Dog help others through the tough times in life?
Can a person hit their own “reset button,” even if they can’t do what you did for Jerry?
Did you plan for Jerry’s last hurrah, or was it a spontaneous decision?
Why did you keep living in your RV and traveling after Jerry died?

About the Authors

Ever since Jerry’s bone cancer diagnosis in 2006, Jim Nelson and Rene Agredano have lived and worked from the road in their RV. Their dog’s amputation and cancer diagnosis prompted them to create Tripawds.com, which today is the veterinary world’s most respected online support community for animal amputees and their people. From Alaska to the Mexican border and everywhere in-between, Jim and Rene also manage the Tripawds Foundation non-profit charity while working online as freelance writers, jewelry makers and website development consultants. They share their nomadic adventures at: https://liveworkdream.com

Find author photos, bios, and more media resources at: https://bemoredog.net/media

Contact Details

To contact Jim and Rene for interviews, or to request electronic review copies, please email info@bemoredog.net, phone 707 845-3129, or submit the contact form at: https://bemoredog.net/contact

Learn how to “Be More Dog” at https://bemoredog.net

Discover the Tripawds Community at https://tripawds.com

Follow Jim and Rene’s travel adventures at https://liveworkdream.com