California authorities have unearthed at least 117 dead dogs in various states of decomposition at Miranda’s Rescue Animal Sanctuary in Fortuna. Investigators discovered canine skulls, bones, and other remains, with many of the animals showing evidence of having been killed by gunshots.
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office was tipped off about the situation by a pair of animal advocates. In addition to the remains, police found more than 600 dog collars in an area where they suspect dozens of animals were killed.
Although Miranda’s Rescue described itself as a no-kill facility, investigators say the organization accepted hundreds of dogs each year from shelters across the San Francisco Bay Area in return for hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding.