A self-described "no-kill" animal rescue in California has come under intense scrutiny after two women living nearby found buried dogs, a discovery that helped trigger a major excavation by law enforcement.
The official search uncovered far more than either woman expected: a mass grave site holding the remains of dozens of dogs.
What happened?
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Jennifer Raymond, a 75-year-old retiree and former director of the Palo Alto Humane Society, and animal rescuer Jenna Moore, 46, helped uncover the alleged scheme after growing suspicious of Miranda's Rescue, a supposed no-kill animal sanctuary.
The two believed the rescue was collecting transfer fees for dogs and, in some cases, killing the animals rather than placing them in homes.
To monitor the rescue, the Chronicle reported, the women used hidden cameras and watched from Raymond's neighboring property. In April, after Moore said she saw Miranda's Rescue owner and operator Shannon Miranda driving a tractor with what appeared to be dog carcasses, the two went into the field and started digging.
There, they found, the Chronicle reported, eight dogs buried close to the surface, several with bullet wounds to the head. Their discovery helped lead to a June 23 search warrant and a broader excavation by Humboldt County authorities.
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The Chronicle reported that investigators recovered 117 whole dog remains, 29 canine skulls, 91 microchips, and 661 collars.
According to records cited by The Chronicle, Miranda claims he only killed dogs that had serious health or behavioral issues, but records do not fully support that claim.
The outlet reported that shelters were paying hundreds of dollars per dog to send animals to Miranda's Rescue, believing the dogs were being transferred to a safe place.
Bruce Wagman, a veteran animal rights lawyer, told the Chronicle that California law gives owners broad authority to euthanize animals they own. That means any criminal case may depend on proving cruelty or malice, he said, rather than simply establishing that the animals were killed.
Despite the investigation, the Chronicle noted that no charges have been filed against Miranda, and he still operates the shelter.
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