Did you grow up around animals?
Even though I was born in a city, we were close to the woods in Michigan and I got to be around animals a lot. Lots of people hunted and fished. From an early age, that was something that I didn’t feel good about.

In my early years, I went to Asia to study Buddhism, acupuncture, herbology and the martial arts. It became apparent to me that all sentient beings, from the smallest insect to the mightiest human, are equally precious. In my home, we don’t allow anyone to kill spiders or flies because we believe that all life is precious. I have lots of animals: horses, sheep, cows, cats, dogs and llamas. We all get along, and we all respect each other.

There was something you said in your speech when you received a PETA Humanitarian Award about shaming companies into changing.

Businesses can keep doing what they’re doing because our judicial system will not fine them enough for it to matter to them. So, the only way that we can deter these people is by embarrassing them.

How do you feel about PETA’s tactics?
It’s like being married. You’ll never agree all the time. I don’t agree with everything PETA has done, but the reason why I’m deeply involved in PETA is because we’re saving lives and we’re helping those who are suffering.

How do you feel about fur?
I think it’s deplorable. It’s not like the Native Americans, who did this to stay alive. The people who farm animals to murder them for furs are atrocious and horrible.

In your travels, have you had any special interactions with animals?
I was in Japan and I had my own dojo, or school, there. I was having some difficulties with a group of lawless individuals—there was this big conflict.

I remember I was sitting out in front of my dojo and I saw this white dog who just walked right up to me as if he had known me forever. I petted him and fed him. He stayed with me for a few days.

On about the third day, he woke me up with really intense barking at about four in the morning. I noticed that my dojo was on fire. I quickly summoned help, and we got the fire out, and I thanked the dog. The next day, he disappeared.

What would you say to people who say animals are here for us to use?
I had a foreman once who said that, and he didn’t last long. He was supposed to be looking after my animals. I just don’t feel that way. I think we’re here to take care of each other.

The more people commune with animals and relate to animals, the better off we’ll all be. There are stories about people who have gone into comas or have had strokes being brought back to health through communion with animals. What does that tell you?

If relationships with animals can heal us, doesn’t that tell you that they’re quite special?