More than 700 animals have gone missing from a California rescue shelter, prompting police to launch an animal cruelty and fraud investigation that has already uncovered troubling findings.
The investigation began on April 26 after the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a tip alleging felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud and conspiracy at Miranda’s Rescue, a nonprofit animal shelter in Fortuna operated by Shannon Miranda.
Since January 2025, 900 animals have been transferred to the rescue, according to Sheriff William Honsal. However, investigators have been able to verify only 116 adoptions during that period, leaving more than 700 animals unaccounted for as detectives work to determine what happened to them.
Investigators believe Miranda may have “murdered these dogs” to free up space for additional rescue animals and increase the shelter’s financial intake, according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by SFGATE.
“We are thinking worst-case scenario,” Honsal said, according to SFGate. “We are here to look and uncover whatever evidence that we can possibly find.”
A HCSO spokesperson told The Independent Thursday, “Investigators have recovered dozens of dogs, which were found in various stages of decomposition. A press release with additional details is expected to be issued tomorrow.”
Earlier reports said an initial search uncovered evidence of at least eight dead dogs, according to the affidavit cited by SFGate. In a second search on June 23, authorities used ground-penetrating radar and began excavating the property, where they found a horse and another animal about the size of a dog.
Recovered animals will be documented, scanned for microchips and stored as evidence, officials said.
“The idea is, once we identify the animal in the hole, then we will have our forensic veterinarians take the animal out and do essentially an autopsy at the scene,” Honsal said at a news conference Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Miranda’s Rescue remains operational with about 50 dogs, as well as cats and birds, still on the property. Animal control officers and a veterinarian visit the rescue three times a week to monitor the animals, some of which are underweight, KTLA reports.
Authorities are also examining business records for possible fraud as the investigation expands with assistance from state and federal agencies.
Miranda, who has not been charged with any crime, addressed the accusations on the rescue’s site in a lengthy statement posted June 18, which states: “For more than 30 years, I have devoted my life to rescuing and caring for animals through Miranda’s Rescue. Recent media coverage and online commentary have presented an incomplete and, in some cases, inaccurate picture of our work. I want to share the facts and provide context so the public can better understand our work and the difficult decisions we sometimes must make.”
He claimed that Miranda’s Rescue cares for difficult-to-place animals that other shelters might euthanize. Miranda said the organization is a no-kill rescue but acknowledged that animals may be euthanized in rare cases involving terminal illness or serious safety threats.
“Two recent cases have drawn particular attention. In one case, a dog named Zora arrived heavily sedated, later killed a feral cat during a walk with a prospective adopter, then broke free and attacked another dog,” Miranda wrote.
“In another case, a dog transferred to us became fixated on a stroller carrying a baby, lunged at it, and attacked it before staff intervened. In both situations, given the observed behavior and the risks to staff, volunteers, visitors, and other animals, I made the difficult decision to euthanize the dogs. These were not decisions made lightly and were based on my responsibility to protect both the public and the animals in our care,” he continued.
The Independent has contacted Miranda’s Rescue for further comment.
