Humboldt County Sheriff's Office deputies uncovered the remains of more than 100 dogs, many exhibiting gunshot wounds, while executing a search warrant at Miranda's Rescue in Fortuna, California. The discovery was made Thursday as part of an investigation into alleged animal cruelty and fraud at the facility.
Sheriff William Honsal described the scene as "horrific" after investigators unearthed 117 "canine remains," skulls, "hundreds of bones, and six loose microchips" at various dig sites on the property. Further examination of the remains revealed evidence of bullet fragments in several dogs.
Investigators also identified an area within a barn on the property where they believe the dogs were killed. Recovered from this location were over 600 dog collars. The search warrant was specifically aimed at gathering evidence related to animal cruelty and fraud allegations against Miranda's Rescue and its founder, Shannon Miranda.
As of the report, no charges have been filed. The sheriff's office stated that if sufficient evidence of violations is found, the case will be submitted to the prosecution team for review.
In a statement on the rescue's website, founder Shannon Miranda addressed the allegations, stating, "Allegations made without a full understanding of the circumstances can harm not only my reputation but also the future of an organization that has served this community for decades. At Miranda’s Rescue, our mission is to save as many animals as we safely can—always balancing compassion for animals with our responsibility to protect families, children, other pets, and the public."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Miranda for further comment. The investigation remains ongoing.