The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office reportedly incorrectly identified which of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s dogs was found dead with the couple in their home.
Initial reports by sheriff’s investigators included the detail that they had found “a deceased brown in color German-Shepard [sic] canine” — a description matching the couple’s beloved German shepherd, Bear.
But Bear was alive and perfectly healthy, found in a local pet day care facility along with Nikita, the couple’s 7-year-old Akita-shepherd mix, USA Today reported Monday.
![Initial reports by sheriff's investigators included the detail that they had found "a deceased brown in color German-Shepard [sic] canine" -- a description matching the couple's beloved German Shepherd, Bear.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/gene-hackmans-wife-betsy-arakawa-99767742.jpg?w=768)
The dog who actually died in the home was a 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mixed-breed named Zinna, who was trained in agility skills in hopes to one day compete in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Her body was found in a closed crate in the couple’s sprawling multi-million dollar estate.
The outlet contacted SFCSO spokeswoman Denise Womack-Avila, who hadn’t yet heard about the case of mistaken doggie identity.
“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 said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
