What Happened to Gene Hackman’s Two Surviving Dogs After the Actor and His Wife Were Found Dead?

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa‘s two surviving dogs are in caring hands.

The actor, 95, and his pianist wife, 65, were found dead in their Santa Fe Summit home on Wednesday, Feb. 26, along with a deceased pet dog. Authorities also found two alive and unharmed dogs on the property.

A Feb. 27 news release from the Santa Fe County Sheriff confirmed that the celebrity couple’s two surviving dogs were safe.

“The Santa Fe County Animal Control Division worked with family to ensure the safety of the two dogs,” the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s statement read.

PEOPLE can confirm the two canines are now living with a family friend of the deceased couple.

The two dogs, whose names are unknown, were found “healthy” at the time Arakawa and Hackman’s bodies were found, with one of the dogs discovered “running loose on the property” and the other found beside Arakawa in the bathroom, according to a search-warrant affidavit reviewed by PEOPLE.

The deceased dog was found a few feet away from Arakawa.

In the days following the sad news of Hackman and Arakawa’s death, friends have shared their memories of the couple, including the pair’s dedication to their pets.

Daniel and Barbara Lenihan, friends of the famous couple, told PEOPLE that The Conversation actor and his wife were “very responsible” pet owners.

“They always had German shepherd rescues, and they were really good to their dogs and very responsible dog owners,” Daniel and Barbara’s son, Aaron Lenihan, 38, told PEOPLE.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

The causes of death for Arakawa, Hackman and their deceased dog have not yet been determined. Hackman was likely dead for nine days, according to data from his pacemaker, before he and his wife were found.

Hackman and Arakawa got married in 1991 and primarily lived in Santa Fe after Hackman retired from acting in 2004.