After criticism, Alain Delon's family says dog won't be killed per late French actor's wish

Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The family of recently deceased actor Alain Delon have denied the French star's last request to have his beloved dog put to death in order for the two to be buried together, according to news reports.

Delon, the French actor, producer, and writer whose style branded him an international sex symbol who, in 1985, won the best actor award at the 10th annual Caesar trophies event to members of France's film industry, had died Sunday at his home in Douchy, France aged 88 after battling poor health in recent years following a stroke in 2019, his family said.

He disclosed during a 2018 interview with Paris Match magazine his unusual wish that his Belgian Shepherd dog, Loubo, would be buried next to him when Delon died, calling Loubo an "end-of-life" dog he loved "like a child."

"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'll ask the vet to take us away together. He'll put him to sleep in my arms."

But Delon's family, including his own four children by birth, told a CNN affiliate on Tuesday how after criticism by animal rights groups in France that the group would not grant the actor's final wish, and that Loubo instead will stay alive spending his remaining years at Delon's residence in Douchy.

The late actor's request in recent days had strongly been criticized by animal welfare organizations as multiple stated they would offer to find a new home if need be.

On Tuesday, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, a French animal charity, took to social media to say how Delon's relatives did confirm Loubo not only "has his home and his family," but that the dog would not face its own death by euthanasia," the Fondation Brigitte Bardot posted Tuesday on X.

But last year, Delon's daughter Anouchka posted a picture of Loubo on social media where she, like her father had in Paris Match six years ago in 2019, outwardly expressed affection for her late father's much-loved pet.

"Wherever there's an unfortunate person, God sends a dog. Thank you, Loubo, for being there for your master," she posted on Instagram.

France's Society for the Protection of Animals, or SPA which is the western European nations' main animal protection organization, was critical of Delon's request on social media, saying "the life of an animal should not be conditional on that of a human being."

More than one organization, including the SPA, offered to rehome Loubo if needed, along with the multifaceted 30 Million Friends, or Fondation 30 Millions d'Amis, that also called on Delon's family to deny his request to have his dog put down.

On Monday, 30 Million paid tribute to Delon as a "fervent supporter of the animal cause," expressing hope in an article that the dog would be put down whilst "in good health."