Remains of 117 Dogs Discovered Buried on Shelter Grounds

Authorities say the remains of at least 117 dogs have been uncovered at a California animal sanctuary that described itself as a “no-kill” shelter, with many of the animals appearing to have suffered gunshot wounds.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that searches of Miranda’s Rescue Animal Sanctuary in Fortuna, California, also turned up 21 dog skulls, hundreds of bones and additional remains.

During a search of the property on Thursday, investigators said they located an area inside a barn that they believe was used to kill dogs.

Officials said more than 600 dog collars were discovered nearby. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal described the discovery as a “horrific scene.” No criminal charges have been filed.

“This investigation is just getting started,” Honsal said in a statement.

“There is a tremendous amount of data to process, witnesses to interview, and evidence to examine,” the sheriff added.

The 50-acre facility, owned by Shannon Miranda, has been the focus of an investigation since April 2026 into allegations that include “felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud, and conspiracy.”

According to an earlier search affidavit, the sheriff’s office was contacted by two animal advocates — including a neighboring property owner — who had placed trail cameras along the shelter’s perimeter to watch activity near what they suspected was a burial site.

The advocates later went onto shelter property and dug up dog remains, the affidavit said.

Investigators used ground-penetrating radar – a tool that scans underground without digging – to locate 117 intact canine bodies in various stages of decomposition buried in an open field. 

More than 70 of the remains were X-rayed, and investigators found bullet fragments in many of them. 

The findings suggest that gunshot wounds were likely the cause of death for many of the animals.

Some of the dog remains were discovered in ‘advanced stages of decomposition,’ according to the sheriff’s office. 

In a June 18 statement on the shelter’s website, Miranda’s rescue said recent media coverage and online commentary had ‘presented an incomplete and, in some cases, inaccurate picture of our work.’

‘At Miranda’s Rescue, our mission is to save as many animals as we safely can—always balancing compassion for animals with our responsibility to protect families, children, other pets, and the public,’ they wrote.

Miranda’s Rescue collects fees from shelter transfers, as well as donations that it says helps cover the costs of food, housing, veterinary care, medications, facility expenses and staffing. 

Shelters paid the Fortuna facility anywhere from $400 to $1,450 per dog, according to the affidavit obtained by the SFChronicle.

Hundreds of dogs have been transferred or turned over to the rescue by private citizens and animal shelters. 

Daily Mail reached out to Miranda’s rescue for additional comment.  

‘Miranda’s Rescue is a no-kill rescue. We do not euthanize animals simply to make space,’ the shelter wrote in the June 18 statement.

However, they added ‘there are rare circumstances in which euthanasia may be necessary — when an animal is suffering from a terminal condition or when it poses a serious, ongoing danger to people or other animals.’

‘In those situations, we make the most humane and responsible decision we can, always with public safety and animal welfare in mind,’ the shelter said.

In early June 2026, Bay Area shelters started to take back the dogs that had been placed with Miranda’s Rescue amid the investigation, SFChronicle reported. 

Napa County Animal Shelter said the safely returned dogs are now available for adoption.

Three dogs that were previously at the rescue – Blanche, Gus, and Clem Smith Jr – were also returned.

Staff noted they came back thinner and bruised, the outlet reported.

 This is a breaking news story.