(KRON) — San Francisco Bay Area animal shelters are cutting off their partnership with a “no-kill” animal rescue sanctuary after dead dogs were allegedly found in a mass grave.
Miranda’s Rescue, located on 50 acres of farmland along Sandy Prairie Road in Fortuna, Calif., received hundreds of dogs annually from Bay Area shelters, including Oakland Animal Services.
In recent months, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the sanctuary after animal rights advocates accused its operator of secretly shooting dogs and burying the animals on the farm. Advocates claim the killings were motivated to make room for more dogs, which generated more money.
“In the past year, it is estimated that Miranda has received approximately over 600 dogs from various shelters. Miranda’s rescue received approximately $510,000 in payment for caring for these dogs,” a sheriff’s detective wrote in a search warrant obtained by KRON4.
Miranda’s Rescue’s website states it is a “no-kill rescue, adoption & sanctuary facility that brings relief to hundreds of distressed, neglected, abused & discarded animals, large & small.” The sanctuary operates as a nonprofit charity.
(Photo via Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office)
On April 26, two animal advocates said they obtained surveillance videos showing someone on the farm dumping dogs into a “large grave site.” The advocates later “dug out eight dogs from a large hole,” the search warrant states.
Detectives said they found evidence that the sanctuary lied that a dog from Oakland, named Zora, was adopted in order to receive more dogs and profits from Oakland Animal Services.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office’s search warrant, executed on May 1, identifies the sanctuary’s owner as Shannon Miranda.
A detective met with Miranda and toured his rural farm on April 27. “He opened up his home and his facility. Ultimately, Shannon denied the allegations,” the detective wrote.
Zora waits patiently for a dog treat at Oakland Animal Services in March 2026. (Photo via OAS)
The sanctuary’s owner told the detective that he recently euthanized multiple horses, a Yak, some dogs, and a goat. Miranda admitted that he used firearms to euthanize dogs for “exigent circumstances,” and buried bodies on his farm, the search warrant states.
Investigators said they were able to confirm that Zora was one of the eight dead dogs found in the grave.
Miranda’s Rescue did not respond to KRON4’s request for comment on Monday.
After confirming Zora’s identity, detectives interviewed a manager for Oakland Animal Services about the dog and re-constructed the following timeline:
March 31: Zora was transported from Oakland Animal Services shelter to Miranda’s Rescue. At the time, the dog was “in good health” and “did not have any temperament issues,” shelter workers reported.
On April 22: The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said it received “credible information regarding allegations of felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud, and conspiracy associated with Miranda’s Rescue.”
April 25: Miranda sent shelter workers a message with a photo of Zora on a leash, writing, “Zora adopted.”
April 29: Seven more dogs from Oakland were scheduled to be transported to Miranda’s Rescue. “It is my belief that Shannon murdered these dogs so that he could accept more from Oakland Animal Services for financial gain,” the detective wrote. “Oakland Animal Services sent dogs to Shannon that were considered unadoptable, under the impression that they could live out the remainder of their lives at the rescue if their behavior was not corrected and if they were not adopted.”
The sanctuary’s owner later changed his story, according to the warrant, claiming that Zora was euthanized because the dog bit him and killed a cat.
May 1: When an OAS director requested to take dogs that originated from their shelter away from Miranda’s Rescue, “Shannon told him that he did not have good records, and that several of the dogs from Oakland had to be ‘put down’ or jumped out of cars. Shannon admitted he lied about Zora,” the warrant states.
May 14: Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS) said animal control officers were scanning all dogs at the sanctuary for microchips to identify each one.
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Detectives determined that, between 2023-2025, OAS transferred 445 animals to the sanctuary. “Miranda’s Rescue would have generated approximately $178,000 in revenue, and profiting from affiliates of the Oakland Animal Services,” the warrant states.
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office search warrant
The Oakland shelter explained that it paid Miranda’s Rescue to accept large dogs that were difficult to find homes for. “For us and for other organizations, Miranda’s charged a fee to accept these animals. They told us that this was necessary to cover costs of housing, feeding and caring for them,” FOAS wrote.
FOAS continued, “Tragically, it is likely that we won’t be able to determine the fate of many OAS dogs. In retrospect, we understand that sending dogs to Miranda’s was a terrible mistake. We, along with many other organizations, wanted to believe these dogs were getting the second chance they deserved. As it turns out, Miranda’s was actively deceiving us, telling us that dogs had been adopted when in fact some of them hadn’t.”
OAS is one of many Bay Area shelters that sent animals to Miranda’s Rescue, including shelters in Berkeley and Contra Costa County, according to the warrant.
Antioch Animal Services said, between 2016-2019, it sent Miranda’s Rescue 10 dogs, 16 cats, 3 rabbits, 2 ducks, 3 chickens and 3 doves.
AAS wrote, “Our hearts break for each unknown outcome involving the many animals brought to Miranda’s Rescue in hopes of a last chance. The full scope of what occurred in Fortuna may take years to fully understand, and there will likely remain difficult questions, differing perspectives, and unknowns.”
A 4-year-old pit bull that originated from a San Jose shelter reportedly suffered injuries at the sanctuary. The pit bull was rescued from the sanctuary transported back to San Jose last week, according to reports.
This summer, detectives are continuing to search for additional evidence of suspected animal abuse and fraud.
The sheriff’s office wrote, “The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office continues to actively investigate the Miranda’s Rescue case. HCSO recognizes the significant concern this case has generated throughout Humboldt County and beyond. We understand the emotional impact this investigation has had on community members, supporters, and those closely connected to Miranda’s Rescue. The Sheriff’s Office shares these concerns and wants the public to know that this case remains a priority.”
“We understand the public’s desire for answers and accountability,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Jesse Taylor. “Our investigators are committed to thoroughly examining all evidence and pursuing every credible lead.”
Anyone with information related to the Miranda’s Rescue case is encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 707-268-2539. You can submit information anonymously by emailing: hso@co.humboldt.ca.us
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