Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa’s two surviving dogs are missing their late owners very much right now, so says their longtime vet.
As you know, the couple was found dead inside their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, alongside their 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix, Zinna. Betsy died from hantavirus sometime around February 12, while her famous husband passed away from heart disease and advanced Alzheimer’s disease a week later. Sadly, Zinna had been locked in a crate while recovering from a “major surgery” and died from dehydration and starvation.
Gene and Betsy had two other dogs, Bear and Nikita, who survived and roamed freely around the house. After Betsy and Gene were found dead, the pups were taken in by a local doggie daycare, Santa Fe Tails, and sent to new homes. But like many dogs, no longer having their beloved owners with them has taken a huge toll on Nikita and Bear.
Related: Gene Hackman & Wife Betsy Arakawa’s Bodies Still Unclaimed Weeks After Deaths!
When certified animal chiropractor Dr. Sherry Gaber, a longtime pal of Betsy’s for almost 20 years who treated Bear and Nikita, visited them days before they went to their new homes, she noticed a huge change in them. She told Dailymail.com on Tuesday:
“Bear put his head on my chest. He put his head down and kept it there for the longest time, like he was saying, ‘You have no idea of what I’ve been through. It’s so good to see you.’ Then he rolled on his back and let me rub his tummy. Of course I cried my eyes out.”
So heartbreaking! Even one of the caretakers couldn’t believe what happened. They confessed to Gaber that Bear hadn’t let anyone rub his belly since he arrived at the facility. Aww. And it wasn’t just Bear relieved to see a familiar face. Nikita also was, too. Gaber also noted she could tell she was missing Betsy, who she loved the most:
“Nikki is just a shy girl. Even when Betsy would bring her in for a treatment, Nikki would lean against her. She would never leave her side. When Betsy would bring the other dogs in, I would hug Nikki, but she would always be looking at the door like when’s mom coming back? You know, missing Betsy, it’s a tremendous loss. I just prayed to her to find the dogs the right home.”
These poor dogs! Our hearts break for them! We hope they went to safe and loving homes! Speaking of which… Unfortunately, wherever Bear and Nikita went, they did not go together. They were placed into two different homes. While some may become upset that the two pooches won’t live together anymore, Gaber noted that this is actually the best thing for them:
“I have known these dogs for years and years, and what I can tell you is that they are very independent of each other. They both have very distinct personalities. They were both loved hugely, spoiled hugely by both Gene and Betsy, and the fact that they will be in separate homes means they will each be receiving 100% attention.”
Kathy Gonsey, co-founder of the German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Central New Mexico, backed Gaber’s statements that re-homing Nikita and Bear separately will benefit them in the long term.
“Instead of relying on each other at their new home, they will rely on their new people. This helps them make the bond more quickly. They will quickly adapt. Remember they are not people. They have a different outlook on life. They will make new pack members.”
As Gonsey pointed out, anyone with a German Shepherd or an Akita knows that they are attached at the hip to their people:
“If you have a German Shepherd, you never take a shower by yourself or go to the bathroom by yourself.”
So the sooner Bear and Nikita can adjust to their new owners, the better at the end of the day. Finding the right people for them is also important here, though. It is something Gene’s daughter Leslie was very worried about and even reached out to the nonprofit after the actor and Betsy’s deaths, asking if she could help. Gonsey said:
“She was very concerned. She didn’t know what was going on, but wanted to make sure the dogs had somewhere safe to go.”
That is all anyone wants — to make sure the dogs are happy, cared for, and loved. Gaber even made sure that happened. She flew to Santa Fe from Central California, something she often did to continue to treat Bear and Nikita, and continued to care for them at the facility as she knew it was what Betsy wanted. She also thought about keeping Bear with her:
“I was considering taking Bear, if he hadn’t already been placed with another person. I was even crying on the plane when I left because I was missing him so much.”
So sad!
However, he had a new home. So did Nikita. Ultimately, Gaber trusts that the Santa Fe Tails’ owner, Joey Padilla, found the best homes for the dogs:
“Joey would only put Bear and Nikki in very good hands. He would only give them to very competent, caring people, people that he trusted 100%.”
Hopefully, Bear and Nikita are enjoying their new homes and owners. Reactions, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments below.
[Image via WENN, Superman II/ Warner Bros.]
