Humboldt County investigators recover 117 dog remains at Miranda's Rescue shelter
Authorities in northern California uncovered 117 canine bodies, many with bullet fragments, at the Miranda's Rescue sanctuary and recovered over 600 dog collars, prompting a continuing investigation into possible animal cruelty and fraud.
Humboldt County sheriff's investigators have completed an excavation at Miranda's Rescue, a sanctuary outside Fortuna that describes itself as a "no-kill" facility. Using ground-penetrating radar, crews identified two burial sites and recovered 117 intact dog remains, along with 21 skulls, hundreds of bones and six loose microchips, according to a press release. X-ray examinations of 70 of the bodies revealed bullet fragments in many of the carcasses.
The investigation also uncovered more than 600 dog collars in a barn area where officials believe the animals were killed. Microchip data is being used to try to match the remains to specific dogs. The sheriff's office said the evidence review will take considerable time and that any charges will be considered after a thorough assessment.
Founder Shannon Miranda posted a statement on the sanctuary’s website, asserting that the operation does not euthanize animals to free space and that any euthanasia is carried out only in rare circumstances with prior notification to local authorities. He asked the public to refrain from judgment until the investigation concludes.
The probe began after a neighbor reported unauthorized digging on the property in April. As of now, no criminal charges have been filed against Miranda or staff members.