Today, the famous and beloved French theater and film actor Alain Delon, aged 85, manages five shelters for dogs and cats. The actor lives a very modest and secluded life on an estate in Switzerland, spending his multimillion-dollar fortune to help homeless animals.
When Alain Delon was young, he always wore a military jacket with large inner pockets—it was the best way to keep all the puppies he found along the way warm.
Delon grew up surrounded by dogs from a very young age. He often recalls a Doberman named Gala, whom he once shouted at and even hit in his youth for misbehaving. Then he saw tears in the dog’s eyes, which deeply moved him. Since then, all of the actor’s pets have only known kindness and love.
The world remembers the sad yet deeply touching story of the Pinscher Mambo, who was doused with gasoline by two sadists and set on fire. Delon managed to save Mambo by sending his veterinarian to care for the dog. The actor ensured that the perpetrators were held criminally accountable. For the first time in legal history, the judge ruled that the injured dog, Mambo, should be present in the courtroom. The actor even tried to advocate for a law granting dogs their own lawyers.
Today, Alain Delon lives in Switzerland and continues to care for dogs and cats. Eight dogs live in his home, and on the estate, there is a dog cemetery for the 45 dogs that have lived with him over the years. Delon has received official permission to be buried alongside the dogs in this cemetery, which he considers a great honor.
Delon admires stray dogs that live with homeless people. These dogs do not care who their owner is—a homeless person or a president. They simply love unconditionally whoever is close to them.
In an interview, the actor said:
*”Do you think my dogs know that I am Alain Delon? They don’t care! My dogs love me regardless of who I am or what I do. That’s unconditional love—pure, complete, and true!”*
One day, Delon was asked what he would like to be in his next life. The actor replied:
*”I would love to be Alain Delon’s dog! It’s a perfect life because my dogs are happy!”*