Alain Delon's Family Rejects Actor's Request to Have His Dog Euthanized and Buried With Him, Following Uproar in France
The family of French cinema icon Alain Delon, who passed away this weekend at age 88, has rejected the actor's wish to have his beloved dog Loubo euthanized and buried alongside him, after the request sparked widespread backlash in France.
HASSAN BENYOUB 
Alain Delon, the iconic French cinema star known for his leading roles in "The Leopard" and "Our Story," passed away this weekend at the age of 88. Delon's family has rejected the actor's request to have his beloved Belgian shepherd, Loubo, euthanized and buried alongside him, following public outcry in France.
Delon had clearly expressed his wish for Loubo, whom he described as his "end-of-life" dog that he loved "like a child," to be buried with him upon his death. He revealed this unusual request in a 2018 interview with Paris Match magazine.
"I've had 50 dogs in my life, but I have a special relationship with this one," Delon told the magazine. "If I die before him, I will ask the vet to take us together. He will euthanize him in my arms."
However, following criticism from animal welfare associations in France, Delon's family confirmed on Tuesday that they would not be granting the actor's controversial final wish.
Reactions to the Announcement
The French animal charity Brigitte Bardot Foundation stated in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday that Delon's relatives had confirmed that the dog "had his home and family" and would not be euthanized.
Delon's children told BFMTV, a CNN affiliate, that the dog would continue to reside at their father's residence in Douchy.
Delon's request had been heavily criticized in recent days. The main French animal protection association, the Société Protectrice des Animaux (SPA), had criticized the demand, stressing on social media on Monday that "an animal's life should not be conditioned by that of a human being."
The organization had instead proposed rehoming the dog if necessary.
The animal protection organization 30 Million Friends had also strongly demanded that Delon's request be rejected. In an article published on Monday, which also paid tribute to Delon's legacy as a "fervent supporter of the animal cause," the association expressed hope that his dog would not be euthanized while "in good health."
They also offered to help find "a trusted person" to take in Loubo if needed.
