Brigitte Bardot’s eponymous foundation spotlighted the iconic French actress’ advocacy efforts in the hours before her death.
“SOS ADOPTION. 🐶 Give Urphé, 2 years old, a chance! This endearing 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. “Following his owner’s move 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 sweet dog, very people-oriented, very affectionate, and very playful. He needs to experience life because he has only known the kennel. We are sending out an SOS today for Urphé. … The Foundation is urgently seeking a family, who wants to give a chance to a dog whose health is deteriorating. It broke our hearts to learn of his diagnosis, and that is why we are making this appeal today.”
The social media message further revealed that the foundation staffers were already “attached” to Urphé.
“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 great sadness the death of its Founder and President, Madame Brigitte Bardot, internationally-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to devote her life and energy to animal protection and to her foundation,” a Sunday, December 28, Instagram statement read. “Under her drive, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, founded in 1986, became a major [force] in animal protection in France and around the world.”
The statement added, “The Brigitte Bardot Foundation would like to salute the memory of an exceptional woman who gave everything and gave up everything for a more respectful world for animals. Her legacy lives on through the actions and fights that the foundation carries on with the same passion and loyalty to its ideals.”
Bardot’s organization further offered 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 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 a surgery following an undisclosed yet serious illness but had since recuperated.
Bardot was previously hospitalized in 2023 for apparent respiratory problems.
“[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 distraction. Like all people of a certain age, she can no longer bear the heat. It happens at 88 years old. She must not make useless efforts.”
Bardot is survived by d’Ormale, her son Nicolas, her grandchildren and great-grandkids.
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