Authorities in the United States have uncovered the remains of at least 117 dogs at a California-based “no-kill” animal shelter, with many of the animals showing evidence of gunshot wounds, according to law enforcement officials.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said on Friday that investigators also recovered 21 canine skulls, hundreds of bones and other animal remains during searches conducted at Miranda’s Rescue Animal Sanctuary, a 50-acre facility located in Fortuna, California.
Officials said investigators searching the property on Thursday identified an area inside a barn where dogs were believed to have been killed. More than 600 dog collars were reportedly discovered near the site.
Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal described the discovery as a “horrific scene.” No criminal charges have been filed so far.
Attempts to reach the shelter’s founder, Shannon Miranda, for comment were unsuccessful.
In a statement published on the shelter’s website on June 18, Miranda said recent reports and online discussions “have presented an incomplete and, in some cases, inaccurate picture of our work.”
“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,” Miranda wrote.
The investigation began in April after authorities received what the sheriff’s office described as “credible information” concerning allegations of felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud and conspiracy involving the shelter.
Miranda’s Rescue receives income through shelter transfer fees and public donations, which it says are used to fund animal care, food, veterinary treatment, medications, staffing and operational expenses.
According to an affidavit from an earlier search warrant, the sheriff’s office was alerted by two animal welfare advocates. One of them, who owns neighbouring property, reportedly used trail cameras to monitor activities near what was suspected to be a burial site.
The affidavit stated that the advocates later entered the shelter grounds and exhumed dog remains.
“This investigation is just getting started,” Honsal said in a statement. “There is a tremendous amount of data to process, witnesses to interview, and evidence to examine.”
Authorities said ground-penetrating radar scans identified 117 intact animal remains buried in an open field, with the bodies found in varying stages of decomposition.
Investigators conducted X-rays on 70 of the remains at the site and discovered bullet fragments in many of them. Officials said gunshot wounds appeared to be the cause of death for a significant number of the animals.
Additional remains in advanced stages of decomposition were also recovered during the search, the sheriff’s office added.
Authorities noted that hundreds of dogs had been transferred to Miranda’s Rescue from both private owners and animal shelters.
In his statement, Miranda maintained that “Miranda’s Rescue is a no-kill rescue. We do not euthanize animals simply to make space.”
However, Miranda wrote, ”there are rare circumstances in which euthanasia may be necessary — when an animal is suffering from a terminal condition or when it poses a serious, ongoing danger to people or other animals.”
“In those situations, we make the most humane and responsible decision we can, always with public safety and animal welfare in mind.”
