Bardot's Final Plea: Foundation Urges Adoption of Dog as Actress Passes Away
Brigitte Bardot’s namesake foundation highlighted the iconic French actress’s advocacy work in the hours leading up to her passing.
“EMERGENCY ADOPTION. Give Urphé, 2 years old, a chance! This charming young Doberman is named Urphé. He is two and a half years old,” a Saturday, December 27, post on the Brigitte Bardot Foundation’s Instagram account read. “After his owner relocated to a nursing home, Urphé was placed in a boarding kennel for a year before being donated to the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and joining one of our shelters.”
The statement continued, “He is a very gentle dog, very fond of people, very affectionate, and very playful. He needs to experience life because he has only known the kennel. We are issuing an urgent plea today for Urphé. … The Foundation is desperately seeking a family, who wants to offer a chance to a dog whose health is declining. It saddened us deeply to learn of his diagnosis, and that is why we are making this appeal today.”
The social media message further revealed that the foundation staff had already become “attached” to Urphé.
Brigitte Bardot Dead: The French Actress Was 91
“It breaks our hearts to know [the dog] has this illness,” the caption said. “If these messages resonate with you, please adopt Urphé, and quickly for his sake.”
Bardot’s nonprofit announced her death at age 91 several hours later.
“The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with profound sadness the death of its Founder and President, Madame Brigitte Bardot, internationally-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her celebrated career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and to her foundation,” a Sunday, December 28, Instagram statement read. “Under her leadership, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, established in 1986, became a significant force in animal protection in France and around the world.”
The statement added, “The Brigitte Bardot Foundation wishes to honor the memory of an extraordinary woman who gave everything and relinquished everything for a more compassionate world for animals. Her legacy endures through the actions and campaigns that the foundation continues with the same passion and dedication to its principles.”
Bardot’s organization further extended its “sincere condolences” to her family, the municipality of Saint-Tropez in France and “all those who share this fight” against animal cruelty.
“The foundation will continue, more than ever, to carry on the work of Brigitte Bardot,” their statement concluded.
While a cause of death has yet to be confirmed, Bardot had been hospitalized earlier this year. A French newspaper reported in October that the actress underwent surgery following an undisclosed but serious illness but had since recovered.
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Bardot was previously hospitalized in 2023 for apparent breathing difficulties.
“[Her breathing] was stronger than usual but she did not lose consciousness,” her husband, Bernard d’Ormale, told the French Var-Matin newspaper at the time. “Let’s call it a moment of respiratory distress. Like all people of a certain age, she can no longer tolerate the heat. It happens at 88 years old. She must not exert herself unnecessarily.”
Bardot is survived by d’Ormale, her son Nicolas, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
