Carolyn Menteith is Dogs Today's roving reporter and a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and the International Society for Anthrozoology. She is often accompanied by her Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Digby.

I always enjoy doing celebrity interviews. It is fascinating to meet someone you think you know well because of their 'public persona' and then to discover the 'real them'. Some live up to expectations - while others, sadly, fall very far short. Actors can be the most disappointing - they spend their lives being someone else, and so what you think is the real thing couldn't be further from the truth.

I think what you know Anthony Head for is an indication of your age. Many remember him for his wonderful performances in the great musicals of the 70s and 80s - Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, and, of course, his suspender-clad, wild performance as Frank N Furter in the Rocky Horror Show. For others, Tony will always be 'the Gold Blend coffee man' - star of a series of ads, featuring two neighbours progressing into a 'will they won't they?' relationship over a cup of instant coffee. The adverts were such a hit that TV ratings soared when each new installment was shown.

"Tony shares his life with Sarah Fisher - the UK's leading exponent of Tellington Touch (and star of Talking to Animals and Celebrity Dog School)"

"On screen, he's been Mr Coffee Incarnate, and has helped to slay many a vampire. Off-screen, he's an altogether calmer, more peaceful chap, who'd probably rescue a vampire if he ever came across one..."

It is hard to describe Buffy to people who have never seen it, but I'll give it a go... Buffy is about a teenage vampire slayer and her friends (who include witches, vampires and demons - obviously), who live in a town that is actually the mouth of Hell. As such, it is full of vampires and demons (so, as a slayer, she is kept busy!). Tony plays Giles, the school librarian, who is actually a watcher (someone who looks after and guides slayers). Hmmmm - loses something in the telling, I fear!

Despite this rather unlikely outline, Buffy is actually a really great show and if you have not seen it, what are you waiting for? With its witty script, likeable characters and surprisingly compelling storylines, it is easy to get totally hooked. I know I am!

Down to earth

All this is good and well - but why was I driving to Bath to interview him for Dogs Today? Surely he must be living in the lap of luxury in LA somewhere and can't possibly have any interest in something as down to earth as dogs? Well, that is where you are very, very wrong!

Tony shares his life with Sarah Fisher - the UK's leading exponent of Tellington Touch (and star of Talking to Animals and Celebrity Dog School). Tony is a huge part of Sarah's work at Tilley Farm - the centre for TTouch, and also home to 22 rescue horses, seven rescue rabbits and many other creatures, including Tony and Sarah's two rescue dogs: Christie (a Spaniel cross) and Archie (a young Lurcher from Battersea). Tony's love of animals is immediately apparent as soon as you meet him. At last year's Wag and Bone Show, Tony was one of the celebrity judges - and he quickly won everyone over with his interest in each of the canine competitors (leaving women stuttering "Ooh, he's such a nice man" in his wake).

After he had made me a cup of coffee (honestly!), we sat down to talk about his love of animals and his amazing career.

"Anthony's love of horses has developed since he has been with Sarah, and many rescue horses have come into their lives.

He realised there was more to them than just  things that you ride. "They are incredible spirits, such noble animals," he says"

Bewitched

Born in Camden, London, Tony had always been an animal lover but never really had much to do with them. While he liked them, he admits he "had never fully understood what they mean to us in our lives, what they can do for us and how they can benefit us." Twenty years with Sarah, however, (whom he met backstage at the National Theatre - and whom he describes as "fascinating and bewitching") has ignited that love into a total passion. "It has been a learning curve," said Tony, "but I was prepared to learn, and I have enjoyed learning more and more about animals."

Having watched him riding a horse (in fact his own horse, Otto) on Buffy the night before, the first thing I had to find out was if he was a horse lover. "When Sarah and I first met," he said, "we used to go riding together in Richmond Park and then go and get hot chocolate afterwards. It was really lovely." His love of horses has developed since he has been with Sarah, and many rescue horses have come into their lives.

He realised there was more to them than just things that you ride. They are incredible spirits," he said, "such noble animals." Does this mean that Tony is a horse person rather than a dog person? "I am an animal person," he replied without hesitation, "although it can be very time-consuming. You can be driving and you see a dog loose on the road - and you have to stop

and check him out. There was a time when I would have gone past and thought 'Oh, there's a dog loose on the road - someone will deal with that.' Well, people don't, and ultimately it's our responsibility. If there's a rabbit on the road, you stop and see if you can help." So says a man who now has seven rabbits living in the most luxurious rabbit run you have ever seen - called, of course, Bunnington Palace.

Watching Tony sitting on the sofa, casually scratching the ears of Archie, the very nervous rescue Lurcher (who looked as if he had died and gone to heaven), it was clear that dogs figured high in Tony's rich animal life.

They teach us unconditional love - they are incredible," he said. There is no other animal like that. They will even go to an owner who abuses them - because it is unconditional. They are very special." Watching Tony with Christie and Archie, it is clear that they think he is pretty special too.

Given his Hollywood success, I had wondered why Tony hadn't moved to LA, but as he talked about his love of the animals, his love of Sarah and their two children, and also the love of Tilley Farm, it all became clear. This place and its animals and people are his anchor.

"Even before this place was here, Sarah has always kept my feet on the ground," he said with obvious emotion. 'This place, however, is magic - and it is very uplifting for the spirit. People who visit feel it straight away. When you come here, you feel good - you feel better. It is a very special place. And the one thing about being around animals is it always keeps your feet on the ground."

Treading the boards

To 'Dog's Today' Article "The Gentle Touch"

Article supplied by kind permission of 'Dogs Today' magazine. Photographs supplied by Paul Keevil.
Article © Carolyn Menteith
Photos © Paul Keevil
The article and photographs are copyright protected and are not to be reproduced elsewhere without permission.

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