A New Report Sheds Light On What Happened To Gene Hackman's Dogs

Buzz Feed

05-03-2025

New details about the late Gene Hackman's three dogs have surfaced.
Last week, the Oscar winner, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home by a maintenance worker.
Along with the bodies of Hackman and Arakawa — which showed signs of advanced decomposition — police found a deceased dog about 10 to 15 feet from Arakawa's body that they described as 'a brown in color German-Shepard [sic] canine,' according to a search warrant affidavit. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza later noted that the dead dog was found in a crate or kennel, ABC News reports.
The affidavit also states that two other dogs were found on the property and appeared to be healthy.
Yet, a new report from USA Today offers conflicting information about the Unforgiven star's three pets.
Joey Padilla, owner of the dog day care Santa Fe Tails, told the outlet he transported the two surviving dogs from Hackman's home to his facility. Padilla told USA Today that the couple's German shepherd, Bear, is alive and is in his care, along with another dog, Nikita, a 7-year-old Akita-shepherd mix.
Padilla said that the dog who died was Zinna, a 12-year-old reddish Australian Kelpie mix, who had once trained in agility skills to compete at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. He said that Zinna was found in her crate with the door closed.
Padilla told Fox News on Monday that he trained the couple's three dogs and frequently watched them for the couple over the past decade. He told the outlet that the three dogs 'were very much attached to' Arakawa, and she'd often bring them along with her when running errands.
'It's hard to explain and encompass how much these dogs meant to these people,' Padilla told Fox.
HuffPost reached out to Padilla for clarification on the information he gave to USA Today, as well as whether Zinna's kennel was closed and locked.
In response to the inquiry, Padilla sent a statement via email saying that he 'will not be making any other statements or answering any direct questions.'
'Betsy and Gene were incredible dog parents. They knew the importance of good training, a healthy diet and socialization. There was nothing they wouldn't do for the well-being of their dogs,' Padilla wrote, noting he was 'very saddened to hear of Zinna's passing.'
'She was always attached to Betsy at the hip and it was a beautiful relationship to watch flourish over the years. Zinna went from being a returned shelter dog to this incredible companion under Betsy's hand.'
He continued, 'Their two surviving dogs, Bear and Nikita, are healthy and receiving the best care in a familiar environment. They are surrounded by people they know who love them and are committed to their safety.'
Padilla noted that while he appreciates people's concern for the couple's pets, he asked 'that no one disturb the new peace they are building after such a traumatic event and allow their caregivers to conduct their duties without interruption.'
Padilla added that he's 'awaiting word' from Arakawa's lawyer 'in regards to her final wishes for these dogs.' He added that any further inquiries can be directed to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, which HuffPost has reached out to for clarification.
USA Today later contacted Denise Womack-Avila, a spokeswoman for the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, about authorities possibly misidentifying the couple's dead dog. She told the newspaper that investigators may have just misidentified the breed.
'Our deputies do not deal with canines on a daily basis and I cannot currently speak to the condition or state of the dog's body upon discovery,' Womack-Avila said in a text message response.
Padilla emphasized to Fox News that Arakawa would never put her animals in harm's way.
'I want to reiterate there is nothing that Betsy wouldn't do for those three dogs,' he said. 'It just breaks my heart about Zinna. Zinna would not leave Betsy's side, they were attached to the hip. It was a pretty phenomenal connection.'