{"id":379434,"date":"2026-06-29T16:34:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/379434\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T16:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:34:14","slug":"horrific-scene-117-dead-dogs-found-in-mass-graves-at-california-no-kill-shelter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/379434\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Horrific scene’: 117 dead dogs found in mass graves at California ‘no-kill’ shelter"},"content":{"rendered":"

FORTUNA, Calif. (KRCR) \u2014 Investigators excavating a field at Miranda\u2019s Rescue Animal Sanctuary in California recovered 117 intact canine remains and additional skulls and bones as part of an ongoing Humboldt County Sheriff\u2019s Office investigation<\/a> into suspected animal cruelty and fraud.<\/p>\n

The Humboldt County Sheriff\u2019s Office Major Crimes Division said it completed a second search warrant operation and follow-up investigation on June 25, 2026, at Miranda\u2019s Rescue Animal Sanctuary<\/a>. The warrant authorized investigators to search the grounds and buildings associated with Miranda\u2019s Rescue and Shannon Miranda for evidence related to animal cruelty and fraud, including excavating open fields for evidence of deceased dogs believed to be buried in mass graves.<\/p>\n

Investigators searched an open field <\/a>on the east side of the property and surveyed the area using ground-penetrating radar. After identifying several locations, specialized teams excavated sites where anomalies in the soil were discovered.<\/p>\n

During the excavation, investigators recovered 117 intact canine remains from two dig sites. In another dig location near where the intact animals were discovered, investigators located an additional 21 canine skulls, hundreds of bones and six loose microchips.<\/p>\n

The sheriff\u2019s office said the 117 intact dogs were in various stages of decomposition. Seventy of the dogs were X-rayed on site, and many of those animals showed evidence of bullet fragments. Most of the dogs recovered were microchipped, and analysts are reviewing microchip data to identify the dogs associated with those chips. All items were collected as evidence and will undergo further examination as part of the ongoing investigation.<\/p>\n

Seventy of the dogs were examined on site by USDA and forensic veterinarians. Based on those examinations, investigators preliminarily determined the cause of death for many of those animals to be gunshot wounds. The remaining 47 dogs were not examined on scene due to time constraints, and all 117 dogs were collected as evidence.<\/p>\n

While digging in the northern area of the same field, investigators located additional deceased canines in advanced stages of decomposition. Investigators attempted to remove animals from that location, but determined, in consultation with the prosecution team, that the evidentiary value of removing the animals from the ground was not justified. Investigators documented the location and observations, then covered the site, leaving the animals in place.<\/p>\n

Investigators also located an area inside a barn believed to be where the dogs were likely killed. In that same area, investigators found more than 600 dog collars.<\/p>\n

This investigation is just getting started. There is a tremendous amount of data to process, witnesses to interview, and evidence to examine. The Major Crimes Division is laser-focused on this case and will continue working with our state and federal partners to examine every lead,\u201d Sheriff William Honsal said. \u201cWe are grateful for the investigative teams from the county, state, and federal government. We are also grateful to the private forensic veterinarians who performed the necropsies on site. The determination all of these professionals showed while working through this horrific scene is something we will not forget.<\/p>\n

The Sheriff\u2019s Office said the evidence review process will require significant time because of the nature and complexity of the investigation. After the investigation is completed and evidence is thoroughly reviewed, if there is sufficient evidence to support violations of animal cruelty, fraud or other applicable laws, the case will be submitted to the prosecution team for review and consideration of criminal charges.<\/p>\n

The Sheriff\u2019s Office said it understands the public\u2019s desire for accountability and justice, but said it must conduct a complete, impartial and legally sound investigation while protecting the constitutional and legal rights of everyone involved.<\/p>\n

The Sheriff\u2019s Office thanked the California Attorney General\u2019s Office, California Department of Justice, United States Department of Agriculture, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Humboldt County District Attorney\u2019s Office, Cal Poly Humboldt Anthropology Department, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, private forensic veterinarians and the Yurok Tribal Police Department for assistance, including with ground-penetrating radar operations.<\/p>\n

Anyone with questions, concerns or information about an animal that was under the care of Miranda\u2019s Rescue was asked to email HSO@co.humboldt.ca.us<\/a>. Anyone with information related to the case can also contact the Humboldt County Sheriff\u2019s Office at (707) 445-7251.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"FORTUNA, Calif. (KRCR) \u2014 Investigators excavating a field at Miranda\u2019s Rescue Animal Sanctuary in California recovered 117 intact…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":379435,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8],"class_list":["post-379434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=379434"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379434\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/379435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=379434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=379434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=379434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}