HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) — A second search of a Northern California animal rescue property has sharply widened an investigation into suspected animal cruelty and fraud after authorities uncovered 117 intact dog remains, 21 canine skulls and hundreds of other bones.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office disclosed the new findings Friday, following the completion of a second search warrant operation Thursday at Miranda’s Rescue.
Investigators from county, state and federal agencies combed the property this week with ground-penetrating radar, then excavated several areas where the scans revealed disturbances in the soil. Along with the 117 intact dogs, crews recovered multiple loose microchips, which authorities are now attempting to connect to specific animals.
According to the sheriff’s office, the dogs were found in varying stages of decomposition. Seventy of the remains were X-rayed at the scene, and investigators said many appeared to contain bullet fragments. Most of the dogs also had microchips, and analysts are reviewing that information in an effort to identify them.
USDA veterinarians and forensic experts examined 70 of the dogs on site and made a preliminary finding that many had died from gunshot wounds. The other 47 dogs were preserved as evidence but were not examined at the scene because investigators ran out of time.
Authorities also found more canine remains in a separate section of the field, but said the decomposition was so advanced that excavation was not warranted. After documenting the area, investigators left those remains where they were found.
In a barn on the property, investigators reported finding a space they believe was likely used to kill dogs. More than 600 dog collars were recovered from that same area.
The sheriff’s office said private residents and animal shelters had sent hundreds of dogs to the rescue over the years, and that “a significant number” of those animals have not been accounted for. Investigators say roughly 900 dogs have been transferred to the rescue since January 2025, while adoption records have been located for only about 100, leaving more than 700 animals still unaccounted for.
As for a possible motive, ABC7 Eyewitness News obtained an initial search warrant affidavit about two months that alleges the rescue accepted dogs for hundreds of dollars, and in some cases thousands of dollars per dog, from shelters across California under the promise the animals would be cared for and rehomed. Investigators allege some of those dogs were instead killed to make room for more animals.
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The investigation began after a neighbor admitted to trespassing onto the property in April to dig up suspected dead dogs. According to the initial affidavit, eight dogs were recovered, many with apparent gunshot wounds to the head.
Berkeley and Oakland were among several Bay Area shelters that sent hundreds of dogs to the rescue before cutting ties.
More than two months after the investigation began, no charges have been filed against the owner or any employees.
The rescue has repeatedly denied allegations of a money-making scheme but has acknowledged euthanizing some animals because of serious behavioral issues or terminal medical conditions.
Legal experts told ABC7 Eyewitness News that the lack of charges does not necessarily mean they are not coming.
“I wouldn’t take the fact that it’s been a little while and charges haven’t been filed as any indication that they won’t be,” said Matthew Liebman, a professor of animal law at the University of San Francisco.
Liebman said animal cruelty cases can present unique challenges because investigators often must rely on forensic evidence rather than testimony from victims.
“Animal cruelty cases can be especially difficult to charge and prosecute because there are unique evidentiary challenges that come with animal cruelty cases,” Liebman said. “Most notably, the fact that the animals themselves can’t testify and can’t tell you what’s been done to them. Obviously that’s even more difficult when the animals are deceased.”
Bruce Wagman, a San Francisco attorney who specializes in animal law, said one of the most disturbing allegations in the case may not, by itself, amount to criminal animal cruelty.
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“The first thing we heard was there were dogs with bullet holes in their heads. For better or for worse, that’s not illegal,” Wagman said. “To euthanize an animal in California by a bullet, that alone is not animal cruelty.”
That does not necessarily rule out animal cruelty charges, Wagman said.
“Everybody believed there may indeed have been extreme and extensive animal cruelty on the property,” Wagman said. “But to prove that is rather hard without eyewitnesses or video evidence.”
Liebman said he believes investigators could still have a viable criminal case.
“I think there’s a very strong case for charging animal cruelty here,” Liebman said. “I’m not privy to the facts that the district attorney has, but in California it is illegal to maliciously and intentionally kill an animal, and it’s also illegal to subject an animal to unnecessary suffering.”
Animal cruelty is not the only potential legal issue investigators are examining.
According to the search warrant affidavit, investigators allege the rescue accepted dogs and payments from shelters under agreements that the animals would be cared for and placed into homes. Legal experts told ABC7 Eyewitness News the investigation could also involve potential fraud, breach of contract, conspiracy and nonprofit law violations, depending on what investigators ultimately uncover.
Sheriff William Honsal said investigators still have a significant amount of evidence to process before determining whether criminal charges are warranted.
“This investigation is just getting started,” Honsal said. “There is a tremendous amount of data to process, witnesses to interview, and evidence to examine.”
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains active. Once investigators complete their review, the case will be submitted to prosecutors if there is sufficient evidence to support violations of animal cruelty, fraud or other applicable laws.
A news conference is scheduled for Monday afternoon in Eureka.
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