The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office announced on Friday that investigators uncovered the remains of 117 dogs during an excavation at Miranda's Rescue, a facility advertised as a "no-kill" animal shelter in Fortuna, California.
Authorities launched the major crimes probe in April after receiving a report regarding allegations of felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud, and conspiracy tied to the 50-acre facility located about 288 miles north of San Francisco.
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Investigation Details
According to Sheriff William Honsal, records showed that the rescue had taken in 900 animals since January 2025 but could only account for 116 adoptions, leaving more than 700 animals missing.
Crews utilized ground-penetrating radar to scan the fields before uncovering the intact canine remains from multiple dig sites, where 70 bodies were X-rayed and found to contain bullet fragments.
Investigators also discovered 21 additional dog skulls, hundreds of bones, six loose microchips, and a barn containing more than 600 dog collars where they suspect the animals were killed.
Law enforcement officials emphasized that the scale of the recovery requires extensive forensic analysis and data processing.
"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," the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office said.
Owner's Response
The founder of the facility, Shannon Miranda, has not been charged with any crime and continues to operate the business with approximately 50 dogs remaining on the property under regular veterinary monitoring.
