A legal complaint called for state intervention after hundreds of dog remains were found at the Humboldt County sanctuary.

Aug 25, 2026

Updated 3:52 pm PT

Sukey Lewis and Zoë Ferrigno

Humboldt County animal advocate Jennifer Raymond stands in front of the entrance to Miranda’s Rescue in McKinleyville on Aug. 25, 2026. Raymond filed a legal complaint with the California attorney general on Aug. 25, 2026, asking for the troubled rescue to be shuttered. About 40 dogs and an unknown number of other animals are still at the troubled animal sanctuary in Northern California.
 (Sukey Lewis/KQED)

The whistleblower who helped uncover the bodies of dead dogs at Miranda’s Rescue, a troubled “no-kill” sanctuary in Humboldt County, filed a legal complaint on Monday with the California attorney general to remove the remaining animals.

Jennifer Raymond asked Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, which oversees charities in the state, to ensure owner Shannon Miranda isn’t hiding or selling off assets, and to move to revoke the nonprofit’s status. 

“ I am very concerned about the animals that are remaining on the property,” Raymond told KQED. 

In April, Raymond and another Humboldt County resident, Jenna Moore, went onto the sanctuary property in Fortuna and dug up the bodies of eight dogs — including one later traced back to Oakland Animal Services. 

A Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy inspects dogs in a kennel at Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna on June 23, 2026.

The two women presented this evidence to local authorities, prompting an investigation by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. In June, law enforcement exhumed the intact remains of 117 more dogs, plus many more skulls, bones, loose microchips and bodies in “advanced stages of decomposition.” 

“I am also perplexed that after all that’s been revealed, that after digging up 117 decomposing dog bodies with ostensible bullet holes in their heads, that the animals are still there,” Raymond said. 

Miranda has denied the allegations that he killed dogs for profit and has called Raymond and Moore “bullies and stalkers.” Miranda’s attorney, Allison Jackson, did not respond to KQED’s request for comment.

The FBI, U.S. Department of Agriculture and California Department of Justice are all involved in the investigation. So far, no charges have been filed against Miranda. 

The complaint comes one day after animal welfare organizations gathered in Sacramento to call for the creation of a new state agency to regulate rescues and other animal companion organizations. Advocates hope policy change can help prevent tragedies in the future.

The filing comes weeks after Miranda and his husband, James Oxborrow, put their 5,000-square-foot, five-bedroom home in Las Vegas up for sale. It’s listed for nearly $1.1 million. 

The attorney general did not immediately respond to KQED’s request for comment.