Anyone who has ever owned a pet understands the special bonds we make with our animal friends, and celebrities are no different. In HNGN's "Stars & Their Pets," celebrity photographer Christopher Ameruoso – the author of the "Pets And Their Celebrities" (2001) and its succesful follow up "Pets And Their Stars" (2005) – documents the human-animal relationship through the eyes of the famous.
Kicking off "Stars & Their Pets" is actor Ron Perlman with his beloved Jack Russell terrier Nigel. Perlman is best known for his starring role in TV series "Beauty and The Beast," "Sons Of Anarchy" and his recent episode-stealing turn on "The Blacklist" as well as the "Hellboy" movie series.
"Since we, as a family, do so much traveling, the notion of getting a dog was one we did not take lightly," Perlman tells HNGN. "Ultimately, the vote was to get a dog who could travel with us as a cherished family member; a dog that was small enough to fit under an airplane seat. Now, since I am a 'big dog' lover, choosing this new little family member was something of a challenge. I needed to find a small dog who thought he was big.
"After searching a few kennels in hopes to find a rescue, a dear friend of mine turned me on to a breeder of Jack Russell terriers who raised champions and who was looking for good homes for a couple of puppies that had yet to be adopted. My son and I took a rather long car ride to follow this lead, and it was there that our lives changed for the better, for it was there that we found Nigel.
"Nigel is now 9 years old. As you might expect, as a Jack Russell, he is filled with personality. He does things at times that make me laugh harder than any human I know. To date he has been to France, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Toronto, Vancouver (three times), five states here in the U.S. and around 18 trips to our other home in New York City. As someone with two grown children, Nigel has become my most constant companion. I cannot imagine life without him."
