When a dying labrador called Custard collapsed outside Downton Abbey star Peter Egan ’s house, it sparked a lifetime of animal activism.
Peter recalls how his wife, actor Myra Frances, sprung into action that day in 1988.
He said: “Myra took him to a vet, who put the animal on a drip. He managed to bring Custard round and he then came to live with us.”
Although the family already had one dog, a black lab named Crackers, looking after Custard opened Peter’s eyes to the crisis of surplus pets in this country.
Since then, he has dedicated his life to animal rights. His dogs have also helped him through the grief of losing Myra to cancer last March, aged 78.
Peter, 75, said: “In the last year and a half, I don’t think I’d have gotten through it without my animals.
“I would not have known what to do with myself. They force you to live in the moment.
“There is also this extraordinary intuition that dogs have when they know that you’re feeling down and they just come and sit where you are and look at you, as if to say, ‘What can I do? What’s the matter?’”
Peter’s years of animal activism make him well-suited for the judging panel of The Mirror People’s Pet Awards.
The red carpet event, taking place at London’s Grosvenor House hotel on Thursday, will celebrate the bond between animals and their owners.
Peter, also well known for his role in After Life, said: “Selection is always impossible because there are so many people who do such extraordinary things, and make such a huge commitment, going the extra mile for the animals that we all care about so much.”
A dedicated vegan, Peter has four rescue dogs of his own where he now lives in Surrey. At one stage, he had eight.
As an ambassador for Animals Asia, he has just returned from Vietnam, where the cruel practice of bear bile farming is still legal. He said: “I went there for the opening of a new bear sanctuary after the announcement by the Vietnamese government, which is that they will end bile farming throughout the region by 2026.”
Peter has recently filmed a comedy series with Julie Walters called True Love. But he says his animal advocacy now takes up 90% of his time.
He added: “I am passionate about all the animals with whom we share our planet.”
Watch the Mirror People’s Pet Awards LIVE on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter on Thursday 8th September at 8pm.
