Mass grave of over 100 dead dogs found at animal rescue site in horrifying discovery
Police in Northern California have discovered a mass grave containing the remains of more than 100 dogs.
The dogs were found buried at an animal rescue property already under investigation for alleged animal cruelty and fraud.
Following a court-approved search warrant, investigators from Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office spent three days digging at Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna.
On the first day, they uncovered a dead horse and another animal, and over the next two days, they found many more dogs, with several believed to have died from gunshot wounds.
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In total, cops said they came across 117 dog bodies buried in two areas of the property.
They also discovered 21 dog skulls, hundreds of bones and six microchips in another nearby location.
The search is part of an investigation into the disappearance of hundreds of dogs that were taken in by the rescue.
Sheriff William Honsal said records show Miranda’s Rescue received more than 900 animals from shelters in 2025.
The investigation started after two animal welfare campaigners entered the property in April and found eight dead dogs, several with apparent gunshot wounds.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is now working with the FBI, the US Department of Agriculture and other agencies as the investigation continues.
Miranda’s Rescue has denied any wrongdoing, as no charges have been filed.
“The goal of the search warrant and ordered by the judge is to excavate several areas of the property where we believe have deceased animals,” Sheriff William Honsal said during a press conference earlier this week.
“Our records indicate through interviewing several shelters throughout the state that Miranda’s Rescue from 2025 January until April, May, of this year received over 900 animals from shelters…We were able to account for only a hundred or so that have been adopted. We have 730 animals that are unaccounted for,” he added.
Miranda’s Rescue says its 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’.
“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,” Shannon Miranda, the founder, said on the website.
Anish Vij