Investigators have uncovered 117 dead dogs at Miranda's Rescue, a northern California animal sanctuary that marketed itself as a “no-kill” facility. Many of the canine remains showed evidence of gunshot wounds, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.
Discovery of Mass Graves
Acting under a search warrant related to animal cruelty and fraud, crews excavated two dig sites on the property in Fortuna, California. Authorities recovered 117 intact canine remains from these sites. An additional 21 canine skulls, hundreds of bones, and six loose microchips were found in a separate dig location nearby.
Before excavation, investigators used ground-penetrating radar to identify subsurface irregularities. Among the remains, they also uncovered several loose microchips, which they are now attempting to match to specific dogs.
Evidence of Gunshots
At the scene, 70 of the dog bodies underwent X-rays, with many appearing to contain bullet fragments. The dogs were in varying stages of decomposition. Most of those examined had microchips, and analysts are working to identify them. The remaining 47 dog bodies were taken into evidence but were not examined on-site due to time constraints.
“Sheriff’s investigators also located an area inside a barn believed to be where the dogs were likely killed. In that same area, investigators located more than 600 dog collars,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release.
Sanctuary's Response
Miranda’s Rescue described itself as a “no-kill” facility, accepting hundreds of dogs annually from Bay Area shelters in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding. In a statement posted on June 18, founder Shannon Miranda addressed two incidents involving dogs with behavioral problems that he said threatened employees, volunteers, and other animals. He urged the public to withhold judgment until the investigation concludes.
“Miranda’s Rescue is a no-kill rescue,” the statement read. “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.”
The statement 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.”
Investigation Timeline
The investigation began after a neighbor admitted entering the property without permission in April and digging up what they believed were buried dogs, according to ABC7 News. More than two months later, no criminal charges have been filed against Miranda or any staff members.
The sheriff’s office said in its press release that “due to the nature and complexity of this investigation, the evidence review process will require a significant amount of time. Upon completion of the investigation, and after a thorough review of all evidence, if there is sufficient evidence to support violations of animal cruelty, fraud or other applicable laws, the case will be submitted to the prosecution team for review and consideration of criminal charges.”
