[UPDATE 1:47 p.m.: Blue Tarp Exposed, Hand Digging Begins] HCSO Executes New Search Warrant at Miranda’s Rescue, Brings Heavy Equipment to Property

Investigators use ground-penetrating radar while a mini excavator removes surface vegetation during Tuesday’s search warrant operation at Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna. Photo by Mark McKenna.

More than a dozen law enforcement vehicles and heavy equipment converged this morning on the Sandy Prairie Road property of Miranda’s Rescue as the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office executed a new search warrant in its ongoing investigation into allegations of animal abuse and fraud involving the longtime rescue organization.

A large number of law enforcement vehicles on the property. [Photo provided by Jenna Moore]

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, California Attorney General’s Office, California Department of Justice, United States Department of Agriculture, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, is actively conducting a search warrant operation and follow-up investigation at Miranda’s Rescue, located at 1603 Sandy Prairie Road in Fortuna, California…

On May 1, 2026, at approximately 6:30 p.m., investigators served the search warrant and seized evidence related to the investigation. Since that time, investigators have interviewed dozens of animal shelters throughout California, as well as some shelters outside of the state. Investigators have also interviewed witnesses and victims and have received hundreds of tips through phone calls and emails.

Through the investigation, it has been determined that hundreds of dogs were transferred or turned over to Miranda’s Rescue by private citizens and animal shelters. A significant number of those animals have not been accounted for…

Based on the large number of animals that remain unaccounted for, investigators served a second search warrant at Miranda’s Rescue on June 23, 2026, at 8:00am.  The warrant authorizes the excavation of the property in an effort to locate additional deceased animals believed to be buried on site.

Sheriff’s investigators have been working collaboratively with the FBI, California Department of Justice, United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, California Attorney General’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.   This is an active animal cruelty, fraud, and theft investigation.

Members of the Cal Poly Humboldt Anthropology Department, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and private forensic veterinarians are assisting with the excavation operation.  Additional information, if available, will be provided on scene at 2:00 p.m. in the 1600 block of Sandy Prairie Road.

The operation marks the first known excavation effort at the property since investigators served an initial search warrant there on May 1.

A mini excavator is transported to the Miranda’s Rescue property this morning as the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office executes a search warrant in its ongoing investigation. Investigators also brought a Bobcat skid steer to the scene as authorities continued processing the property. [Photo: Courtesy of Jenna Moore]

Law enforcement officers gathered this morning at the River Lodge in Fortuna for a briefing before convoying to Miranda’s Rescue, where the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office later executed a search warrant as part of its ongoing investigation. Photo: Courtesy of Jenna Moore.

By mid-morning, a backhoe and a Bobcat had reportedly been brought onto the site, where numerous marked and unmarked law enforcement vehicles lined the private road leading to the rescue.

Jenna Moore, a former veterinary technician whose allegations helped spark the investigation, was monitoring the operation from a neighboring property. She said investigators initially gathered in a pasture before excavation equipment began operating in another area of the property.

“This is a huge step in the right direction,” Moore told Redheaded Blackbelt. “They weren’t digging before. Now they’re digging.”

Moore cautioned that she had not been briefed by investigators and said her understanding of the operation was based solely on what she was observing from outside the property. However, she did say she received word this morning from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office confirming that investigators were serving a search warrant at the property.

The renewed search comes weeks after the Sheriff’s Office launched a criminal investigation following allegations that dogs accepted by Miranda’s Rescue were unlawfully killed and buried on the property while being reported to shelters and owners as adopted or otherwise placed.

As previously reported by Redheaded Blackbelt, investigators allege the rescue accepted hundreds of dogs transferred from shelters throughout California, as well as privately surrendered animals, while collecting transfer fees, surrender fees, donations and municipal contract payments. A search warrant affidavit alleges some animals were intentionally killed to make room for additional transfers, allegations that Miranda has denied.

Shannon Miranda has not been charged with any crime.

In a public statement released after the investigation began, Miranda said many of the allegations circulating online and in the media were untrue and said he intended to “vigorously defend” himself through the legal process.

In a recent report by the North Coast Journal, Miranda has denied euthanizing adoptable animals for profit, maintaining that every dog he shot was either suffering, dangerously aggressive, or posed an immediate safety risk, and that shooting them was a legal and humane method of euthanasia under California law. He also argues that allegations by Jenna Moore and Jennifer Raymond stem from longstanding personal conflicts and that the investigation has mischaracterized his actions and statements.

The Sheriff’s Office has previously stated that the investigation remains active and that investigators are committed to pursuing every credible lead.

As of publication, investigators are on scene. It was not immediately known whether any animal remains or other evidence had been recovered.

Redheaded Blackbelt has requested additional information from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and will update this story as more information becomes available.

UPDATE 11:50 a.m.: Our photographer Mark McKenna is at the scene

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Mobile Command Center is staged at Miranda’s Rescue as investigators use ground-penetrating radar to identify areas of interest before excavation. The search is part of a multi-agency investigation involving local, state and federal authorities. Photo by Mark McKenna.

A mini excavator begins carefully removing soil from a flagged search area as investigators monitor the excavation during the search warrant operation at Miranda’s Rescue. Photo by Mark McKenna.

Animal Control personnel appear to be inspecting dogs remaining at Miranda’s Rescue while investigators continue executing a multi-agency search warrant elsewhere on the property. Photo by Mark McKenna.

UPDATE 1:47 p.m.: Witnesses at the scene report a strong odor emanating from the excavation area. According to those on scene, investigators uncovered what appeared to be blue tarp and have transitioned from using heavy equipment to hand excavation with shovels. Our reporter, along with others observing from nearby, was asked to leave the roadside where they had been watching. Jennifer Raymond is now having blackberry brambles cleared on her adjacent property to provide reporters with a vantage point to observe the ongoing excavation.

Earlier: 

• Paid to Save Them, Accused of Killing Them: The Investigation of Miranda’s Rescue
• HCSO: Miranda’s Rescue Investigation Remains a Priority