Investigators have uncovered 117 dead dogs at a northern California animal rescue sanctuary, with many of the canine remains showing evidence of gunshots. The Humboldt County sheriff's office announced on Friday that they had completed their excavation of the property at Miranda's Rescue, a facility outside Fortuna that describes itself as a “no-kill” shelter.
Investigation details and evidence
Acting under a search warrant for grounds and buildings related to animal cruelty and fraud, crews dug through areas where authorities believed dogs had been buried in mass graves. Before excavation, investigators used ground-penetrating radar to locate irregularities beneath the surface. According to a press release from the sheriff's office, “During the excavation, investigators recovered 117 intact canine remains from two dig sites. An additional 21 canine skulls, hundreds of bones and six loose microchips were located in another dig location near where the intact animals were discovered.” The 117 dogs were found in varying stages of decomposition. At the scene, 70 of the bodies underwent X-rays, with investigators saying many appeared to contain bullet fragments. Most of those dogs had microchips, and analysts are working to identify them. The other 47 dog bodies were taken into evidence but were not examined at the site due to time constraints.
Allegations of fraud and animal cruelty
The sheriff's office also located an area inside a barn believed to be where the dogs were likely killed. In that same area, they found more than 600 dog collars. Miranda's Rescue accepted hundreds of dogs each year from shelters across the San Francisco Bay Area in return for hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding. The investigation was launched after a neighbor admitted entering the property without permission in April and digging up what they believed were buried dogs, according to ABC7 News.
Sanctuary's response and legal status
In a statement posted on the sanctuary's website on June 18, founder Shannon Miranda addressed two incidents that he said brought increased attention to the rescue, both involving dogs with behavioral problems that threatened employees, volunteers, and other animals. He asked people to withhold judgment until the investigation is complete. “Miranda’s Rescue is a no-kill rescue,” the statement said. “We do not euthanize animals simply to make space. However, as we state on our website, there are rare circumstances in which euthanasia may be necessary … Whenever euthanasia has been necessary, I have notified local authorities in advance, even when told that reporting is not required.” It added: “Allegations made without a full understanding of the circumstances can harm not only my reputation but also the future of an organization that has served this community for decades.” As of now, no criminal charges have been filed against Miranda or any staff members. The sheriff's office said that due to the complexity of the investigation, the evidence review process will require significant time, and if sufficient evidence supports violations, the case will be submitted for prosecution.
