Michael J. Fox opens up about the importance of pets

Michael J. Fox will be celebrating his beloved dog Gus in a new CBS special, where he reveals how important pets are to those like him.

The 59-year-old actor was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991, at just 29 years of age, and he’s opening up about the disease on a new CBS special.

The Back to the Future star is interviewed by Lee Cowan in the primetime special The Pet Project, airing Friday, November 27 at 9 PM ET.

Michael and Gus: Michael J. Fox will be celebrating his beloved dog Gus in a new CBS special, where he reveals how important pets are to those like him

New special: The 59-year-old actor was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, at just 29 years of age, and he's opening up about the disease on a new CBS special

New special: The 59-year-old actor was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991, at just 29 years of age, and he’s opening up about the disease on a new CBS special

‘You know that no matter your situation, no matter what you feel, this animal is with you and is connected to you, and you feel,’ he said. ‘It’s a force multiplier.’

Fox penned a new book No Time Like The Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, which was published last week.

While his beloved dog Gus wasn’t a ‘rescue,’ he argued that the dog rescued him, in more ways than one.

Actor-author: Fox penned a new book No Time Like The Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, which was published last week

Actor-author: Fox penned a new book No Time Like The Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, which was published last week

Rescue: While his beloved dog Gus wasn't a 'rescue,' he argued that the dog rescued him, in more ways than one

Rescue: While his beloved dog Gus wasn’t a ‘rescue,’ he argued that the dog rescued him, in more ways than one

Gus has always been there for him, even as his medical conditioned continued to worsen, like two years ago when he had a tumor removed from his spinal cord.

The actor had to relearn how to walk all over again, and when he finally came back home in a wheelchair, his four-legged companion was waiting.  

‘He kind of circles the wheelchair with this low kind of woof woof, woof woof, and sat in front of the wheelchair right in front of me, and looked at me, and I said, it’s going to be okay,’ the actor said.

Gus: Gus has always been there for him, even as his medical conditioned continued to worsen, like two years ago when he had a tumor removed from his spinal cord

Gus: Gus has always been there for him, even as his medical conditioned continued to worsen, like two years ago when he had a tumor removed from his spinal cord

Fox added that the pooch, who he describes as a ‘wonder dog’ in his book, is intuitive enough to know that his owner has changed in some way.  

‘Your instinct when you have a chronic illness is to sometimes isolate and make your world as small as possible so you don’t have much to deal with, but a dog will open you up,’ Fox added.

The Pet Project special is anchored by Jane Pauley and also includes a visit with Bindi Irwin and her family, carrying the legacy of her late father Steve Irwin.

Wonder dog: Fox added that the pooch, who he describes as a 'wonder dog' in his book, is intuitive enough to know that his owner has changed in some way

Wonder dog: Fox added that the pooch, who he describes as a ‘wonder dog’ in his book, is intuitive enough to know that his owner has changed in some way

While Fox originally retired from acting in 2000, as symptoms from Parkinson’s Disease worsened, he has continued working as a voice actor.

He lent his voice to movies like Stuart Little and Atlantis: The Lost Empire, though he ultimately did return in front of the camera.

He had roles in Rescue Me, Boston Legal, Annie, The Good Wife, Boston Legal, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Designated Survivor and The Good Fight, though the actor recently announced he’s retiring once again. 

Retired: While Fox originally retired from acting in 2000, as symptoms from Parkinson's Disease worsened, he has continued working as a voice actor

Retired: While Fox originally retired from acting in 2000, as symptoms from Parkinson’s Disease worsened, he has continued working as a voice actor