700 Dogs Still Missing As FBI, Deputies Excavate Suspected Graves In Growing Humboldt County Investigation

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Federal, state, and local investigators excavated suspected animal burial sites Tuesday at a prominent animal rescue, where authorities say more than 730 animals remain unaccounted for. Authorities are investigating allegations of animal cruelty, fraud, theft, and conspiracy at Miranda's Rescue, which contracted with city and county shelters statewide.

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation with assistance from the FBI, the California Department of Justice, the California Attorney General's Office, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the USDA Office of Inspector General, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California.

Speaking during a press conference Tuesday, Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said investigators executed a second search warrant at the 50-acre Fortuna property to seize financial and adoption records while excavating locations identified through ground-penetrating radar as possible burial sites.

"This is a fraud investigation as well as an animal cruelty investigation," Honsal said.

Investigators are examining all potential criminal charges, Honsal said, adding that the alleged victims include animal shelters that transferred dogs to Miranda's Rescue believing the animals would be adopted rather than euthanized.

RELATED: Shelters Cut Ties With 'No-Kill' CA Rescue Accused Of Slaying And Dumping Dogs In Mass Grave

Records reviewed by investigators show shelters across California transferred more than 900 animals to Miranda's Rescue since January 2025. Some shelters reportedly paid the rescue between $500 and several thousand dollars for each transfer.

Authorities have verified the adoption of only 116 animals.

"We were able to account for only 100 or so that have been adopted," Honsal said. "We have 730 animals that are unaccounted for."

The investigation has expanded well beyond Humboldt County. Honsal said investigators are working with numerous shelters throughout California, as well as Hawaii, making the case one involving many potential victims.

Investigators first removed the top layer of soil before using ground-penetrating radar to identify disturbed earth. Excavation crews uncovered a horse in one location and another animal approximately the size of a dog in a second excavation.

Every recovered animal will be photographed, documented, scanned for a microchip, and examined by forensic veterinarians. Necropsies performed on-site are intended to determine each animal's identity, cause of death, and whether evidence supports criminal charges. Additional examinations are pending.

About 50 live animals, including dogs, cats, and birds, remain at the sanctuary. Investigators are weighing and documenting the dogs while providing food and care. Honsal said several animals appeared underweight, although he noted weight loss is not uncommon among shelter animals, and many have begun recovering after receiving regular care.

No one has been arrested, and Miranda's Rescue owner Shannon Miranda has not been charged with a crime.

Because Miranda's Rescue operates as an unlicensed animal sanctuary rather than a licensed shelter, authorities cannot simply revoke its authority to operate or remove the remaining animals without legal grounds.

"It's an unregulated sanctuary," Honsal said. "There is no license, so the state can't simply revoke a license and say you can no longer be a sanctuary."

Honsal also noted that California law does not prohibit euthanasia itself when it is performed humanely. The criminal investigation focuses on whether animals suffered unnecessary pain or were killed in an inhumane manner, as well as whether shelters were defrauded by representations that transferred animals would be placed rather than euthanized. He emphasized that investigators have not reached conclusions and that those issues remain under investigation.

Many of the shelters that transferred animals were facing overcrowding and sought placements to create space for additional dogs and cats. Some participating shelters, including Oakland Animal Services, maintain no-kill policies and rely on rescue organizations to continue caring for animals that otherwise had nowhere to go.

Honsal said California continues to struggle with severe shelter overcrowding, calling it a statewide problem that needs to be addressed. The issue has fueled debate among animal welfare organizations and lawmakers over policies affecting shelter capacity, transfers, and euthanasia. Dozens of California animal welfare organizations have taken positions on proposed legislation addressing the state's growing shelter crisis.

Despite the ongoing criminal investigation, Honsal noted that Miranda's Rescue still has adoptable animals available.

The Sheriff's Office has assigned two detectives and one sergeant full-time to the case, which began after investigators received allegations on April 22. Since then, investigators have interviewed dozens of shelters, witnesses, and alleged victims, while reviewing hundreds of tips from the public.

When the investigation is complete, evidence will be submitted to the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office, the California Attorney General's Office, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California. Those agencies will determine whether criminal charges will be filed.

"This is going to be a long road," Honsal said. "There are more than 700 missing animals."

Anyone with information related to the investigation should contact the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office at (707) 445-7251.

Mass burial site

The case has drawn attention to how private rescue organizations work with public shelters, but operate outside their management and oversight. It's a vital but rarely visible part of California’s animal welfare system: a network of private rescues that accept animals from crowded public shelters, often for transfer fees, and promise to care for them, rehome them, or keep them alive when local agencies run out of space.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Miranda’s Rescue in April after receiving information that dogs transferred from shelters across California may have been killed and buried at the facility instead of adopted out, according a search warrant affdavit.

Sheriff’s Detective Julian Aguilera served a search warrant on May 1 at Miranda’s Rescue, located at 1603 Sandy Prairie Road. He described a 30-acre sanctuary and adoption facility with multiple kennels, barns and enclosed animal areas. Aguilera wrote in the affidavit that during a tour of the facility, he found the living dogs appeared well cared for and housed in suitable conditions.

Two animal welfare advocates went to extraordinary efforts to trigger the criminal investigation. It began April 22 when two women contacted the sheriff’s office with what authorities called “credible information” that the rescue was accepting dogs and killing them primarily for financial gain, according to the affidavit.

According to Aguilera, a woman who runs her own animal rescue purchased property bordering Miranda's because she suspected he was mistreating animals. The woman, Jennifer Raymond, put up trail cameras that captured footage that appeared to show dogs being dumped in a mass grave at Miranda's property, Aguilera wrote in his affidavit.

Raymond and another animal rescuer, Jenna Kilby, entered Miranda’s property through a hole in a fence on April 26 and discovered deceased dogs. The women subsequently led deputies to the burial site.

“No-kill” policy

According to the affidavit, the women scanned the dead dogs' microchips, determining one of eight slain dogs — Zora — was transferred from Oakland Animal Services on March 31, 2026.

Miranda had texted Oakland shelter officials to report that Zora had been adopted, according to Aguilera.

Investigators confirmed through a microchip that Zora was among eight dogs found in a pile of deceased animals. Because of blood and dirt on the remains, investigators were originally unable to determine whether Zora had suffered a gunshot wound.

Miranda told investigators he received money for caring for transferred dogs.

When Aguilera showed Miranda photographs of dead dogs found stacked in the bed of a truck on the property, he reportedly became emotional and denied ownership of the animals. Investigators later determined that one of the dogs in the photographs was Zora.

Oakland Animal Services officials told investigators they had received a photograph of Zora from Miranda's Rescue on April 25 showing the dog on a leash accompanied by a message stating that Zora had been adopted.

An Oakland Animal Services representative also told investigators that many large dogs like Zora transferred to Miranda’s Rescue were difficult to place in urban homes because of space constraints.

Shelters across California, including Napa, Contra Costa, Alameda, Solano, Monterey and Palm Springs reportedly entrusted animals to Miranda’s Rescue, which claimed to have a “no-kill” policy.

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