117 dogs found dead at California rescue, many shot, authorities say
Authorities found 117 canine remains, many shot, at a Fortuna rescue that had taken in about 900 dogs since 2025 but could document only 100 adoptions.
Authorities found the remains of 117 dogs, many with gunshot wounds, at Miranda’s Rescue Animal Sanctuary in Fortuna after a second search warrant operation was completed June 25. Investigators also recovered 21 canine skulls, hundreds of bones and more than 600 dog collars from the 50-acre property at 1603 Sandy Prairie Road.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said USDA veterinarians and forensic specialists examined 70 dogs at the scene. Many of those animals were preliminarily determined to have died from gunshot wounds, and X-rays showed bullet fragments in others. Investigators also identified an area in a barn they believe was likely used to kill dogs.
The scale of the missing records deepened the case. Authorities said about 900 dogs were sent to Miranda’s Rescue since January 2025, but only around 100 adoption records were found, leaving more than 700 animals unaccounted for. The sheriff’s office said the dogs were found in various stages of decomposition, a sign the problem had been building for some time before the searches began.
The investigation started after the sheriff’s office received credible information on April 22 about allegations of felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud and conspiracy tied to the rescue. Deputies served the first search warrant on May 1, then returned for the second operation in late June. County, state and federal agencies are now involved, including the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, the California Attorney General’s Office, the California Department of Justice, the United States Department of Agriculture and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Shannon Miranda, the founder of the rescue, posted a statement June 18 saying, “For more than 30 years, I have devoted my life to rescuing and caring for animals through Miranda’s Rescue.” He also said media coverage was incomplete or inaccurate and said he would vigorously defend himself. No charges have been filed.
The case has prompted scrutiny across the Bay Area, where several shelters had transferred dogs to Miranda’s Rescue before cutting ties. Berkeley and Oakland were among the shelters that sent dogs there, and some animals returned from the rescue have already been placed up for adoption again. For county and state regulators, the unanswered question is how a self-described no-kill sanctuary could accumulate so many dead dogs before the deeper search ever began.
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