Latest news with #WestminsterKennelClubDogShow
CBC
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
This Shih Tzu from Sudbury, Ont., just got back from the world's most prestigious dog show
The Paquette family in Sudbury has been breeding Shih Tzus for 50 years. Patti Paquette explains what goes into preparing her Shih Tzu Bowie for dog shows, including the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Yahoo
Major Error Identified in Initial Gene Hackman Death Details
A misidentification in the original reports surrounding the death of Gene Hackman, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and one of their three pet dogs has been uncovered. Because the affidavit for the search warrant obtained by sheriff's deputies noted that first responders "observed/found a deceased brown in color German-Shepard [sic] canine,' according to USA Today, it was originally believed that the couple's German shepherd—identified by friends as Bear—was found deceased in a closed crate several feet from Arakawa. 🎬 🎬 However, the surviving dogs, including 7-year-old Akita-shepherd mix Nikita, were correctly identified by Joey Padilla, a longtime trainer for the couple and the owner of Santa Fe Tails—the pet care facility currently caring for them. Padilla revealed that the deceased dog was actually Zinna, a 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix. Zinna, short for Zinfandel, went through agility training when she was younger with the intention of competing at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, though it's unclear if she was ever entered. Denise Womack-Avila, a spokeswoman for the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, told the publication she was unaware of the mistake and suggested that the investigators on scene 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,' she added. The department also originally reported that Bear and Nikita, who "appeared healthy" upon discovery, were taken into the custody of the Santa Fe County Animal Control Division. According to a press release, animal control "worked with the family to ensure the safety of the two dogs." Per USA Today, Sheriff Adan Mendoza called one of Hackmans' daughters while Padilla was present to discuss the fate of the beloved pets. Overwhelmed with grief, she had no answer. Padilla took the dogs to his facility, where he said they will remain until lawyers determine if the couple's wills state what to do with them. No matter what, he said they won't be taken to a shelter. (A local company donated food for the pair while a local vet hospital offered to cremate Zinna's remains, though her body has not been released by authorities yet.) 'If only people knew how meticulous and amazing (Hackman and Arakawa) were with the dogs,' he told the publication. 'It breaks my heart.' 'I think this is a tragic accident,' he added. 'There's no way that Betsy would have left that dog in a crate for any other reason.' Parade has reached out to the Sheriff's Department for comment. Next:
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gene Hackman death investigation continues: Conflicting details emerge on dogs, health
The deaths of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa may still be unsolved, but new details about their pets and health are emerging. The actor, his pianist wife Arakawa and their dog were found dead by authorities in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday. According to a search warrant affidavit, authorities found the actor in a mudroom near his cane, appearing to have fallen, while his wife Arakawa was found in an open bathroom near a space heater, with an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the nearby countertop. A deputy observed Arakawa with "body decomposition, bloating in her face" and mummification of her hands and feet. One of the couple's dogs was also found dead less than 15 feet from Arakawa in a crate, while two other dogs were found alive in the bathroom near Arakawa and outside. Here's what else is new as the investigation continues. On Tuesday, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office issued an update based on the New Mexico Gas Company's "extensive investigation for gas leaks and carbon monoxide at Gene Hackman's home," which was conducted the evening of Feb. 26. "There were no significant findings. NMGC did issue five (5) red tags. One red tag was for a minuscule leak (0.33% gas in air – not a lethal amount) at one of the stove burners," the news release states. "The other four red tags were for code enforcement violations -not involving gas leaks or carbon monoxide – involving a water heater and gas log lighters installed in three fireplaces." These results "are not believed to be a factor in the deaths of Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa or their dog," the sheriff's office noted. However, the findings were sent to the Office of the Medical Investigator "for consideration." The exact cause of death still has not been determined. Authorities have called the circumstances "suspicious," though a Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said foul play is not suspected. Police are in the process of putting together a timeline of the couple's deaths, with early reports suggesting the couple could have been dead for over a week. USA TODAY has learned that police, in an affidavit for a search warrant, misidentified the dog that the couple died with, which led media to incorrectly report their German shepherd had perished. The dog who died in the Hackman home was actually Zinna, a 12-year-old reddish Australian Kelpie mixed-breed who had once trained in agility skills to compete at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Her body was found in a closed crate in the home, according to Joey Padilla, who transported the surviving dogs to his facility, Santa Fe Tails. The couple's surviving dogs are Bear, a German shepherd, and Nikita, a 7-year-old Akita-shepherd mix. Gene Hackman's dog: Sheriff's office makes error in initial death report USA TODAY visited the Santa Fe Animal Shelter, the county agency responsible for housing animals when they are found with deceased owners. Officials there referred all questions to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, who said deputies may have just misidentified the breed. According to family friends Daniel and Barbara Lenihan, Hackman's condition was "really slipping" in the "last couple of months" before his shocking death, the couple shared with People magazine in an interview published Friday. Gene Hackman's friends reveal late actor's health was in decline months before death While the Lenihans did not disclose details on Hackman's failing health, Daniel Lenihan noted that the Oscar-winning actor was "essentially kind of homebound," with Barbara Lenihan adding that the 95-year-old had stopped riding his bike through their Santa Fe, New Mexico, neighborhood. Hackman lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for four decades, much of that time in the couple's remodeled property. Gene Hackman's refuge – and mysterious death – at his Santa Fe home with wife Betsy Arakawa The "French Connection" actor turned to the city – and a two-story green stucco estate – after retreating from Hollywood. The home blended pueblo, colonial and Spanish baroque styles and was rebuilt from the studs, according to Architectural Digest, with Hackman involved intimately with the design of the home. Contributing: Anna Kaufman and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gene Hackman death investigation: New details on dogs, health
USA Today
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Gene Hackman death investigation continues: Conflicting details emerge on dogs, health
Gene Hackman death investigation continues: Conflicting details emerge on dogs, health Show Caption Hide Caption Gene Hackman's quiet impact: a legacy beyond the screen In Santa Fe, Gene Hackman's lesser known legacy of humility, artistry and an undeniable fingerprint on his community. The deaths of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa may still be unsolved, but new details about their pets and health are emerging. The actor, his pianist wife Arakawa and their dog were found dead by authorities in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday. According to a search warrant affidavit, authorities found the actor in a mudroom near his cane, appearing to have fallen, while his wife Arakawa was found in an open bathroom near a space heater, with an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the nearby countertop. A deputy observed Arakawa with "body decomposition, bloating in her face" and mummification of her hands and feet. One of the couple's dogs was also found dead less than 15 feet from Arakawa in a crate, while two other dogs were found alive in the bathroom near Arakawa and outside. Here's what else is new as the investigation continues. Search for gas leaks and carbon monoxide results in 'no significant findings' On Tuesday, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office issued an update based on the New Mexico Gas Company's "extensive investigation for gas leaks and carbon monoxide at Gene Hackman's home," which was conducted the evening of Feb. 26. "There were no significant findings. NMGC did issue five (5) red tags. One red tag was for a minuscule leak (0.33% gas in air – not a lethal amount) at one of the stove burners," the news release states. "The other four red tags were for code enforcement violations -not involving gas leaks or carbon monoxide – involving a water heater and gas log lighters installed in three fireplaces." These results "are not believed to be a factor in the deaths of Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa or their dog," the sheriff's office noted. However, the findings were sent to the Office of the Medical Investigator "for consideration." Gene Hackman cause of death The exact cause of death still has not been determined. Authorities have called the circumstances "suspicious," though a Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said foul play is not suspected. Police are in the process of putting together a timeline of the couple's deaths, with early reports suggesting the couple could have been dead for over a week. Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa died with Australian Kelpie mix named Zinna: Exclusive USA TODAY has learned that police, in an affidavit for a search warrant, misidentified the dog that the couple died with, which led media to incorrectly report their German shepherd had perished. The dog who died in the Hackman home was actually Zinna, a 12-year-old reddish Australian Kelpie mixed-breed who had once trained in agility skills to compete at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Her body was found in a closed crate in the home, according to Joey Padilla, who transported the surviving dogs to his facility, Santa Fe Tails. The couple's surviving dogs are Bear, a German shepherd, and Nikita, a 7-year-old Akita-shepherd mix. Gene Hackman's dog: Sheriff's office makes error in initial death report USA TODAY visited the Santa Fe Animal Shelter, the county agency responsible for housing animals when they are found with deceased owners. Officials there referred all questions to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, who said deputies may have just misidentified the breed. Gene Hackman's friends reveal late actor's health was in decline months before death According to family friends Daniel and Barbara Lenihan, Hackman's condition was "really slipping" in the "last couple of months" before his shocking death, the couple shared with People magazine in an interview published Friday. Gene Hackman's friends reveal late actor's health was in decline months before death While the Lenihans did not disclose details on Hackman's failing health, Daniel Lenihan noted that the Oscar-winning actor was "essentially kind of homebound," with Barbara Lenihan adding that the 95-year-old had stopped riding his bike through their Santa Fe, New Mexico, neighborhood. Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa rebuilt New Mexico property Hackman lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for four decades, much of that time in the couple's remodeled property. Gene Hackman's refuge – and mysterious death – at his Santa Fe home with wife Betsy Arakawa The "French Connection" actor turned to the city – and a two-story green stucco estate – after retreating from Hollywood. The home blended pueblo, colonial and Spanish baroque styles and was rebuilt from the studs, according to Architectural Digest, with Hackman involved intimately with the design of the home. Contributing: Anna Kaufman and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
USA Today
04-03-2025
- USA Today
Sheriff's office makes error about Gene Hackman's dog in initial death report
Sheriff's office makes error about Gene Hackman's dog in initial death report It's unclear how the dog was misidentified in the report Show Caption Hide Caption Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa mourned in Santa Fe Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were living a quiet life in Santa Fe before their deaths. SANTA FE, N.M. — News of the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa pinged into Sherry Gaber's cell phone as text messages from friends. 'Do you know about this?' one friend asked, with a link to an article about the discoveries. Gaber's heart dropped. The news of Hackman and Arakawa – close friends and clients – was bad enough. But what really sank her soul was the fact that their German shepherd, Bear, had died along with them. Just five months earlier, Gaber, an animal chiropractor, had run her hands along Bear's fur, adjusting the animal's atlas vertebrae, the topmost vertebrae in the cervical spine. She'd cooed the German shepherd and laughed with Arakawa. Bear seemed vibrant and happy, although still slightly favoring a right hip from a surgery a few months earlier. Now, she believed he was dead, found either in a closet or crate or bathroom floor, depending on conflicting news and official reports. The details didn't compute. 'I can't handle that image,' Gaber said in an interview with USA TODAY. 'That's why this whole thing is so distressing.' 'It just doesn't add up,' Gaber said. That's because it didn't. Bear wasn't dead at all. As Gaber read the news reports on her phone, the dog was alive and well, resting at a pet daycare facility in Santa Fe, along with the couple's other dog, Nikita, a 7-year-old Akita-shepherd mix. USA TODAY learned the dog who perished in the Hackman home was actually Zinna, a 12-year-old reddish Australian Kelpie mixed-breed who had once trained in agility skills to compete at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Her body was found in a closed crate in the home, according to Joey Padilla, who transported the surviving dogs to his facility, Santa Fe Tails. Police continue to look into the details and causes behind the deaths of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 64. They were discovered in separate rooms in their Santa Fe estate with signs of advanced decomposition, probably from being dead for over a week. As investigators try to establish a cause of death for the movie actor and his wife, their misidentification of Zinna could potentially raise doubts about other parts of their investigation. In their affidavit for a search warrant, sheriff's investigators said deputies 'continued to search the residence where they then observed/found a deceased brown in color German-Shepard [sic] canine.' Details of the affidavit were reported by the media, leading friends to believe Bear had died. USA TODAY visited the Santa Fe Animal Shelter, the county agency responsible for housing animals when they are found with deceased owners. Officials there referred all questions to the sheriff's office. It's unclear how the dog was misidentified in the report. USA TODAY contacted Denise Womack-Avila, a spokeswoman for the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, who's leading the investigation. She said she hadn't heard of the mistaken dog identity. She said 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. Informed by USA TODAY that it was Zinna – not Bear – who was found dead in the home, Gaber gasped. 'My body's just shaking right now,' she said. 'I'm grateful [it's not Bear]. It's still a tragic story.' Tough guy, everyman: Gene Hackman pursued anonymity and a private artist life in Santa Fe Hackman and Arakawa were devoted dog lovers Gaber met Hackman and Arakawa more than 18 years ago, when the couple learned of Gaber's ability to improve animals' health through chiropractic adjustments. Gaber focuses her treatment on the upper cervical spine to allow the body to better communicate with the brain, she said. Over the years, she has treated dogs, cats, bald eagles, owls, pet skunks, a porcupine ('I'll never do that again'), rabbits, goats and a mountain lion. In 2003, Gaber helped a 1,400-pound buffalo walk straight again, a story captured in the 2007 book, 'A Buffalo in the House,' by R.D. Rosen. Arakawa heard the story at a Santa Fe book event – and immediately reached out to Gaber. That sparked an 18-year relationship where Arakawa would bring her dogs into Gaber's Santa Fe practice every few weeks to get adjusted. The two would also meet for dinner or go shopping around town. When Arakawa rescued Zinna from a shelter, she contracted a trainer and began putting her through agility training – weaving through poles, tire jumps, ducking through tunnels – with the goal of entering her into Westminster, Gaber said. Gaber treated Zinna before and after training sessions and competitions, she said. As she got older, Zinna – short for zinfandel – stopped training. But Arakawa continued bringing the dogs in for sessions. 'They wanted to do all the right things for their animals because they loved them so deeply,' Gaber said. The last time she saw Arakawa was in October, when she brought in Bear for an adjustment. The German shepherd, who Arakawa rescued from the side of Interstate 25, appeared to enjoy his session, Gaber said. She and Arakawa joked and promised to meet up again soon. Then, last week, the messages came in: Her two close friends were dead, as was Zinna. 'I went into shock,' Gaber said. 'I laid down underneath the stars and cried for an hour.' A star's tragic end: Gene Hackman's refuge – and mysterious death – at his Santa Fe home with wife Betsy Arakawa Dog trapping at the Hackman home Padilla, who took care of and trained the couple's dogs over the years, got the call Wednesday afternoon. It was the handyman who had first discovered the bodies. The worker, who had done jobs for Hackman in the past, asked Padilla if he could come retrieve the surviving dogs. Padilla drove to the scene. Bear was found 10 to 12 feet away from Arakawa, while Nikita was running around in the sprawling backyard, skittish of all the commotion, Padilla said. Animal control had already collared Bear. Padilla tried to coax Nikita closer by opening and closing the door to Arakawa's car, but she stayed clear, he said. One of Padilla's employees tried drawing her close with treats, but also couldn't get near enough. Finally, the animal control staffers set up a door trap for her overnight in the yard, which got her. Padilla returned on Thursday to retrieve the dogs. While he was there, Sheriff Adan Mendoza called one of Hackman's daughters and put her on speakerphone, as he and Padilla inquired about what to do with the dogs. Overcome by grief, no one came up with an answer, he said. 'It was overwhelming for everybody,' Padilla recalled. 'There was a lot to intake. I finally said, 'Listen, I'm just here to help.'' He drove the dogs to his pet daycare facility, where he'll take care of them until lawyers sort out the couple's will and determine if there's any mention of what to do with the dogs. They won't be taken to a shelter, Padilla said. 'If only people knew how meticulous and amazing [Hackman and Arakawa] were with the dogs,' said Padilla, who took care of and trained the couple's dogs over the years. 'It breaks my heart.' Meanwhile, a local company donated food to feed the dogs and a veterinarian hospital offered to cremate Zinna, but authorities told them they were still investigating and needed the dog's body, Padilla said. He said he wouldn't speculate as to how Zinna may have died in the crate. But he said he was sure Hackman and Arakawa did everything they could to help those dogs – all the way to the end. 'I think this is a tragic accident,' he said. 'There's no way that Betsy would have left that dog in a crate for any other reason.' Follow Jervis on X: @MrRJervis. Carbon monoxide and the dogs: Gene Hackman, wife's deaths remain a mystery
