French heart-throb actor Alain Delon recently died at the age of 88, but if he’d had his way, his ten-year-old dog Loubo would have gone with him to satisfy the actor’s wish to have his beloved dog buried with him.
Apparently the actor, who died on August 19 after declining health and reclusive living, had asked for his dog, a Belgian Malinois, to be “euthanized” so the two could rest together in eternity. A Belgian Malinois has an appearance similar to a German Shepherd.
To the relief of animal rights activists, including Delon’s friend and former sex symbol actress Brigitte Bardot, the actor’s family overruled his macabre instructions, so Loubo will not get a lethal injection. Animal rights activists and the public were shocked at the idea of putting down a perfectly healthy animal to satisfy the wishes of a dead man. According to the French Society for the Protection of Animals, an animal’s life “should not be conditional to a human life.”
Delon seemed absolutely unashamed to confess his bizarre desire to the public. He told the celebrity magazine Paris Match in 2018 that Loubo was “my end of life dog,” also saying he loved the dog as if he was his child. Continuing in that vein, the blue-eyed actor said that if he should die before his god, he’d ask the veterinarian to “take us away together.”
Delon said that of the 50 dogs he’s had in his lifetime, Loubo was the most special.
Brigitte Bardot’s animal charity bearing her name said on social media this week they’ve been flooded with concerned messages about the possible euthanasia, but that animal lovers need not worry. Loubo will stay with his family in the same home, and they will care for him, according to the organization.
Delon was frequently called the most beautiful man in cinema, as he was unusually handsome with piercing blue eyes. With more than 90 films under his belt, his biggest roles were from the 1960s.
