A simple guide to owning a dog or cat
There are many options when it comes to adopting an animal. Learn more about shelters, rescues, and rehoming groups here.
No arrests have been made in the investigation into a no-kill animal rescue operation in Northern California, but authorities said they recovered more than 100 dog carcasses, many with evidence of bullet fragments.
Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said the investigation began on April 22 after “two concerned citizens” complained of possible felony animal abuse and fraud involving Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna, California. The residents told authorities they believed the dogs were buried in a field behind the property and later turned over eight dead dogs recovered from the property, the sheriff said.
“Miranda’s Rescue advertises itself as an animal sanctuary and has entered into agreements with animal shelters and rescue organizations to provide a place for animals to be adopted or to complete their lives within the sanctuary,” Honsal said at a June 29 press conference.
“The allegations in this case are that Miranda’s Rescue received payment for the adoption of the animals, but later euthanized (the animals) and (they) were not allowed to be adopted or live out their lives in the shelter,” it added.
Authorities executed a search warrant on May 1 and seized electronic devices, business records, financial records, firearms and other evidence, the sheriff said. Investigators then conducted a second search warrant investigation on June 23, which included excavating part of the site for evidence of dogs buried in the mass grave.
Mr Honsal said that during the search they found “117 intact dog remains” in two burial sites. Seventy dogs were X-rayed at the scene, and many showed evidence of bullet fragments. Honsal said a veterinarian who conducted a preliminary examination determined that many of the dogs died from gunshot wounds.
The case remains an active investigation, and Honsal said evidence is still being reviewed before a decision on criminal charges is made.
More than 700 dogs remain missing
Honsal said investigators reviewed records showing 918 dogs were surrendered and transferred to Miranda’s Rescue between January 2025 and April 2026.
According to the sheriff, authorities have identified 116 adoptions, with 71 dogs up for adoption in May. Another 45 dogs were still being rescued. Based on these numbers, Honsal said 731 dogs are still missing.
The sheriff cautioned that the numbers are preliminary and only reflect animals listed in records reviewed by investigators thus far. Investigators are using microchip data and shelter records to track the animals and figure out what happened to them.
“When I say preliminary numbers, these are numbers that we know,” Honsal said. “We know that more animals were transferred to that facility and we have records of that.”
Dog bodies found in two burial sites: ‘The dogs were stacked on top of each other’
Honsal said the 117 dog carcasses were recovered from two separate excavation sites in a field behind the rescue facility.
“It was about 12 to 15 feet deep at its deepest point,” he said. “The dogs were stratified. You can see there were different periods with different dogs.”
After further investigation, the dog appeared to have been buried “sometime between January and April 2026,” the sheriff said. He added that investigators have no plans to return for additional excavation at this time, but may seek new search warrants if new evidence is found.
Dog bones, microchip and collar found on rescuer’s property
Investigators also found a dog carcass in the northern area of the same field, but it was too decomposed to limit its evidentiary value, the sheriff’s office said.
“Investigators recorded the location and observations, the scene was covered and the animals were left in their final resting place,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Another 29 dog skulls, hundreds of bones and 91 microchips were recovered from the scene, Honsal said at a June 29 press conference. Of the 91 microchips, 85 were scanned from the dog’s intact remains and six were found in loose soil, Honsal said.
Honsal said many of the microchips have been traced back to animal shelters and rescue groups across California. Analysts are reviewing the microchip data, and investigators are preparing to contact the shelter and the dog’s former owner.
Investigators also found 661 dog collars in the barn area where authorities believe euthanasia activities may have taken place, the sheriff said. Some collars contained license numbers, names and other identifying information.
In the same area, investigators found spent shell casings, .22 bullets, a .22 caliber rifle and blood spatter, Honsal said.
The animals are still in the Miranda shelter as the investigation continues.
Despite the allegations, Miranda’s Rescue continues to operate. Honsal said California does not currently require specific state permits or licenses to conduct animal rescue operations, allowing the facility to remain open while the investigation continues.
The sheriff said animal control officers visit the facility three days a week and have confirmed that the remaining dogs, cats, birds and other animals appear to be receiving proper care.
Honsal also said the rescue mission’s founder, Shannon Miranda, has not been arrested and is a “free citizen” whose movement is not restricted while the investigation continues. USA TODAY has requested comment.
The rescue says on its website that it is a “non-lethal rescue, adoption and shelter that provides relief to hundreds of distressed, neglected, abused and abandoned animals, large and small, each year.” The facility is located on 50 acres in Fortuna, a town of about 12,500 people, according to the rescue group’s website.
Miranda posted a statement on the rescue group’s website on June 18, before the latest search warrant uncovered the remains of the dead dog. Miranda said the shelter has no-kill facility status because it does not euthanize animals to save space, but it may euthanize animals due to terminal illnesses or behavioral issues that pose a danger to others.
Miranda pointed out that two recent incidents that came under intense scrutiny involved dogs that were deemed dangerous to other dogs and were euthanized.
“My staff, volunteers, and I love the animals in our care. We work tirelessly to rehabilitate them and find them as safe and suitable homes as possible. Unfortunately, not all animals can be safely rehabilitated or placed in home environments. Some have attacked other animals, threatened staff, or exhibited severe behavioral distress that makes it impossible to care for them,” Miranda said in a statement.
Contributor: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY
