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HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) — Investigators recovered 117 intact canine remains, 21 canine skulls and hundreds of additional bones during a second search of a Northern California animal rescue property, dramatically expanding an investigation into alleged animal cruelty and fraud.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office announced the findings Friday after completing a second search warrant operation at Miranda’s Rescue on Thursday.
County, state and federal investigators searched the grounds this week using ground-penetrating radar before excavating multiple locations where anomalies in the soil were detected. In addition to the 117 intact dogs, investigators recovered several loose microchips that they are now working to match to individual animals.
The sheriff’s office said the 117 dogs were in various stages of decomposition. Seventy were X-rayed at the scene, and investigators said many showed evidence of bullet fragments. Most of the recovered dogs were microchipped, and analysts are now reviewing the data to identify them.
USDA veterinarians and forensic specialists examined 70 of the dogs at the scene and preliminarily determined many died from gunshot wounds. The remaining 47 dogs were collected as evidence but were not examined on site because of time constraints.
Investigators also located additional canine remains in another area of the field but determined they were too decomposed to justify excavation. After documenting the site, investigators left those remains in place.
Inside a barn on the property, investigators said they discovered an area they believe was likely used to kill dogs. More than 600 dog collars were also recovered from that location.
The sheriff’s office said hundreds of dogs were transferred to the rescue by private citizens and animal shelters over the years and that “a significant number” of those animals remain unaccounted for. About 900 dogs have been sent to the rescue since January 2025, investigators say. Adoption records have only been found for around 100, leaving over 700 animals are still unaccounted for, investigators say.
As for a possible motive, 7 Eyewitness News obtained an initial search warrant affidavit about two months that alleges the rescue accepted dogs for hundreds of dollars, and in some cases thousands of dollars per dog, from shelters across California under the promise the animals would be cared for and rehomed. Investigators allege some of those dogs were instead killed to make room for more animals.
RELATED: Bay Area shelters cut ties with rescue after records claim dogs found shot, buried
The investigation began after a neighbor admitted to trespassing onto the property in April to dig up suspected dead dogs. According to the initial affidavit, eight dogs were recovered, many with apparent gunshot wounds to the head.
Berkeley and Oakland were among several Bay Area shelters that sent hundreds of dogs to the rescue before cutting ties.
More than two months after the investigation began, no charges have been filed against the owner or any employees.
The rescue has repeatedly denied allegations of a money-making scheme but has acknowledged euthanizing some animals because of serious behavioral issues or terminal medical conditions.
Legal experts told 7 Eyewitness News that the lack of charges does not necessarily mean they are not coming.
“I wouldn’t take the fact that it’s been a little while and charges haven’t been filed as any indication that they won’t be,” said Matthew Liebman, a professor of animal law at the University of San Francisco.
Liebman said animal cruelty cases can present unique challenges because investigators often must rely on forensic evidence rather than testimony from victims.
“Animal cruelty cases can be especially difficult to charge and prosecute because there are unique evidentiary challenges that come with animal cruelty cases,” Liebman said. “Most notably, the fact that the animals themselves can’t testify and can’t tell you what’s been done to them. Obviously that’s even more difficult when the animals are deceased.”
Bruce Wagman, a San Francisco attorney who specializes in animal law, said one of the most disturbing allegations in the case may not, by itself, amount to criminal animal cruelty.
RELATED: Bay Area shelters retrieve dogs from NorCal rescue accused of shooting, killing animals
“The first thing we heard was there were dogs with bullet holes in their heads. For better or for worse, that’s not illegal,” Wagman said. “To euthanize an animal in California by a bullet, that alone is not animal cruelty.”
That does not necessarily rule out animal cruelty charges, Wagman said.
“Everybody believed there may indeed have been extreme and extensive animal cruelty on the property,” Wagman said. “But to prove that is rather hard without eyewitnesses or video evidence.”
Liebman said he believes investigators could still have a viable criminal case.
“I think there’s a very strong case for charging animal cruelty here,” Liebman said. “I’m not privy to the facts that the district attorney has, but in California it is illegal to maliciously and intentionally kill an animal, and it’s also illegal to subject an animal to unnecessary suffering.”
Animal cruelty is not the only potential legal issue investigators are examining.
According to the search warrant affidavit, investigators allege the rescue accepted dogs and payments from shelters under agreements that the animals would be cared for and placed into homes. Legal experts told 7 Eyewitness News the investigation could also involve potential fraud, breach of contract, conspiracy and nonprofit law violations, depending on what investigators ultimately uncover.
Sheriff William Honsal said investigators still have a significant amount of evidence to process before determining whether criminal charges are warranted.
“This investigation is just getting started,” Honsal said. “There is a tremendous amount of data to process, witnesses to interview, and evidence to examine.”
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains active. Once investigators complete their review, the case will be submitted to prosecutors if there is sufficient evidence to support violations of animal cruelty, fraud or other applicable laws.
A news conference is scheduled for Monday afternoon in Eureka.
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