Alain Delon wanted pet dog Loubo to be buried with him

The family of the late French actor Alain Delon has refused to fulfill his wish to have his pet dog, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois named Loubo, euthanized and buried alongside him. Delon, who passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday, had expressed his desire for Loubo to be "put to sleep" and laid to rest in his grave at his home in Douchy, Loiret.

The decision to reject Delon’s request came after an outcry from animal rights activists, who argued against the euthanasia of a healthy animal. The Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which had initially expressed concern, confirmed that Delon’s daughter, Anouchka, had decided to keep Loubo. "I’ve just had Anouchka Delon on the phone and she has told me that Loubo is part of the family and will be kept. The dog will not be put down," a spokesperson for the foundation stated.

The French animal protection group SPA also voiced its opposition, stating, “The life of an animal should not depend on that of a human. The SPA is happy to take his dog and find it a family.”

Delon, who created a cemetery on his estate for his many dogs, had a deep bond with Loubo, whom he adopted in 2014. In a 2018 interview with Paris Match, Delon expressed his love for the dog, saying, "He’s my end-of-life dog... I love him like a child." He also mentioned his wish to have Loubo put to sleep in his arms if he were to die first, to spare the dog from suffering.

Reports suggest Delon will be buried at his Douchy home in a private ceremony, honoring his wish to avoid a national event similar to those for other French celebrities.