Actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their New Mexico home last month, with their dog Zinfandel, an Australian kelpie mix, also discovered deceased. A necropsy report has revealed the likely cause of death for the dog, stating it likely died from dehydration and starvation due to being confined without access to food or water.
The report found no signs of infection, trauma, or poisoning in the dog’s body. The dog’s stomach was mostly empty except for small amounts of hair and bile. This suggests that the dog had not eaten recently, but there was no evidence of dehydration either.
Hackman, 95, died of cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s disease, while Arakawa, 65, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease transmitted through rodent urine or saliva. Their two other dogs were found alive, with access to a doggy door that allowed them to escape.
The couple’s dogs were boarded at a local facility where Hackman and Arakawa often stayed. The owner reported that the surviving dogs are safe and adjusting, awaiting further instructions on their care.
Source: https://abc7.com/post/gene-hackmans-dog-australian-kelpie-mix-named-zinfandel-died-starvation-dehydration-necropsy-report-finds/16024343