Shelter says two puppies among over 100 dead dogs found at Miranda's Rescue

An animal shelter has confirmed that two puppies it transferred to Miranda's Rescue were among the more than 100 dead dogs found as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of animal abuse and cruelty.

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office said in a press release on Friday that they had found 117 dogs in various states of decomposition at Miranda’s Rescue Animal Sanctuary, an animal shelter in northern California.

The sheriff’s office previously said it started investigating the shelter after receiving "credible information" in April "regarding allegations of felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud, and conspiracy." No charges have been filed.

After this announcement from investigators, the Palm Springs Animal Shelter said in a statement to Facebook that two puppies, originally transferred from their shelter to Miranda’s Rescue, were among the first eight animals recovered from the property.

"Learning this has been heartbreaking for our staff, volunteers, and everyone who cared for them," they said in a statement. "We transferred those puppies believing they were being placed with a trusted rescue partner where they would have the opportunity to find loving homes. The outcome is devastating."

It’s not the first time that allegations of abuse have surfaced around Miranda’s Rescue.

In 2017, owner Shannon Miranda was interviewed on Straight Talk by Scott Malcolm, and a video of the interview is still available on YouTube.

In that interview, Malcolm asks Miranda about the “major bad press” he had been receiving. He asks him about claims that he lied about the animals, "that you don’t take care of them at your facility, that you actually engage in wholesale killing of the animals. It’s pretty horrendous,” Malcolm said of these allegations.

In the lengthy interview, Miranda denied the allegations and said: “Unfortunately, people can post whatever they want on Facebook, and that’s what happened.”

The Palm Springs Animal Shelter added that they, among other animal shelters in California and around the country, participate in transfer programs with other shelters that provide animals with opportunities for placement and adoption.

They added that they had established a partnership with Miranda’s Rescue in the fall of 2024.

In a statement posted to the shelter’s website on June 18, Miranda said that recent media coverage and online commentary "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 Palm Springs Animal Shelter said that they, among other animal shelters in California and around the country, participate in transfer programs with other shelters that provide animals with opportunities for placement and adoption.

They added that they had established a partnership with Miranda’s Rescue in the fall of 2024.

Newsweek has contacted Miranda’s Rescue for comment outside of regular working hours via email.

Miranda’s Rescue is described on their website as a “no-kill rescue, adoption & sanctuary facility that brings relief to hundreds of distressed, neglected, abused & discarded animals, large & small, every year.”

The organization is a non-profit, and as it is a rescue facility and not a shelter, it received no government funding.

It is a 50-acre facility with 30 working acres.

It worked with a number of animals, per information on its website, including dogs and cats, as well as horses, reptiles, birds and exotic animals like alpacas, emus and llamas.

Miranda’s Rescue worked with shelter transfers and collected fees as well as accepting donations that it says covered the cost of food, housing and facility expenses.

A GoFundMe set up by Miranda is still active. That fundraiser was raising money for buildings, kennels and fencing and has raised $5,700 of a $9,000 goal, over 31 donations.

The facility was founded in 1995. Information published on their website states that animals are adopted out of their facility, while others have found “permanent refuge” there. “Our rescue always has and always will do everything possible to save an animal's life!” information on the ‘About Us’ section of the website reads.

Now, thousands of posts have flooded social media, with people seeking to find out if animals sent to the rescue are alive or dead.

Shannon Miranda, 55, is the founder and owner of Miranda’s Rescue.

Since April of 2026, he has been under investigation over allegations of animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud and conspiracy.

He is not currently facing any criminal charges in the probe. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that due to the nature of the case, the investigation would take time, but that 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.”

“Criticism is part of public life, and people have a right to ask questions. I only ask that they consider all the facts before reaching conclusions. 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,” Miranda said in a statement published on Miranda’s Rescue website.

Authorities excavated open fields at the sanctuary for evidence that animals had been buried in mass graves.

Local media has reported that the investigation was launched after a neighbor admitted that, in April, they had entered the property without permission and dug up what they believed were buried dogs.

The Sheriff’s Office has said that they located more than 600 dog collars.

Sheriff William Honsal said that “this investigation is just getting started,” and described the scene as “horrific.”

The case has caused significant public concern and outrage. A change.org petition that calls for Miranda to be held accountable has been signed over 7,000 times as of reporting on Monday morning.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251.

This article includes reporting from Associated Press.