Sheriff’s office misidentifies dog in Gene Hackman's death report

Per a recent update regarding the deaths of Hollywood star Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, an error has been found in the official report regarding the identity of a deceased dog, which was found at the couple’s Santa Fe home, according to USA Today.

On February 26, 2025, authorities found the decomposed bodies of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa. The bodies were discovered inside their Santa Fe estate.

Reports indicate that Gene was discovered near his cane in a mudroom. On the other hand, Betsy was found in a bathroom near a space heater. There was an open prescription bottle and scattered pills nearby. Signs of decomposition indicated they may have been deceased for over a week before being found.

Moreover, one of the couple's dogs was discovered dead, reportedly in a closed crate near Arakawa’s body while two other dogs were found alive. One was in the bathroom and another outside the home.

Initial reports from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office mistakenly identified the deceased dog as Bear, the couple's German Shepherd, per USA Today. This misinformation was quick to spread through media outlets.

What was the confusion?

Joey Padilla, who had worked with Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s dogs for a long time, stepped forward to shed some light on the identification of the dogs.

The dog that died was not Bear, but Zinna, a 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix.

Zinna was found inside a kennel within the bathroom closet. Bear, along with the couple's other dog, Nikita, was actually alive and in Padilla's care at his pet daycare facility, Santa Fe Tails. Nikita is an Akita-shepherd mix.

According to USA Today, Joey Padilla shared in a statement:

"It was overwhelming for everybody. There was a lot to intake. I finally said, ‘Listen, I’m just here to help.’ If only people knew how meticulous and amazing (Hackman and Arakawa) were with the dogs. It breaks my heart."

The sheriff’s office later admitted the error. They attributed it to deputies' lack of familiarity with dog breeds. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Denise Womack-Avila stated:

"Our deputies do not deal with canines on a daily basis."

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were known for their love of animals

Friends recall how Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa ensured their pets received good care. They used to maintain regular chiropractic adjustments from animal specialist Sherry Gaber. He had treated Bear just months before Gene Hackman’s death.

For now, Bear and Nikita are at Santa Fe Tails. The couple’s will is expected to outline provisions for their pets. However, until legal matters are sorted, Joey Padilla has taken responsibility of their care.

The body of Zinna remains with authorities as part of the ongoing investigation. A local veterinary hospital had offered to cremate her. However, police have held onto the remains pending further examination.

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