{"id":336,"date":"2026-05-24T06:05:53","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T06:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=336"},"modified":"2026-05-24T06:05:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T06:05:53","slug":"search-warrant-alleges-rescue-shelter-took-in-600-dogs-including-those-from-oakland-generated-510k-in-past-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=336","title":{"rendered":"Search warrant alleges rescue shelter took in 600+ dogs — including those from Oakland — generated $510K in past year"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Humboldt County sheriff\u2019s deputies executed a search warrant at Miranda\u2019s Rescue earlier this month, launching the first criminal investigation into the nonprofit after two local women uncovered what detectives describe as evidence of intentional dog killings and financial fraud.<\/p>\n

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The 20-page warrant was signed on May 1 by Superior Court Judge Kelly Neel. Detective Julian Aguilera, the lead detective on the case with the Humboldt County Sheriff\u2019s Office, wrote that he believed Miranda\u2019s Rescue founder Shannon Miranda may have \u201cmurdered these dogs so that he could accept more from Oakland Animal Services for financial gain,\u201d according to the affidavit obtained this week. Deputies were authorized to search every structure, vehicle, and outbuilding on the 50\u2011acre property, seize digital devices, compel biometric unlocking, collect financial records dating back to 2001, and inventory all animals on site.<\/p>\n

The investigation began after two citizens both of who have experience working with animals, Jennifer Raymond and Jenna Kilby (Moore), conducted their own surveillance and gathered information through public information requests to individual shelters across the state. The women cut through a shared fence, dug up eight dogs from a field on Miranda\u2019s Rescue\u2019s property, and stored the bodies in a freezer. They provided deputies with microchip data, photographs, trail\u2011camera footage, and public\u2011records documents from multiple counties.<\/p>\n

At least four people interviewed by this reporter claimed they have previously reported concerns about the rescue over the past decade. The warrant contains no reference to any prior complaints, and this is the first time the sheriff\u2019s office has opened a criminal case into the allegations.<\/p>\n

What investigators say they found<\/h4>\n

According to the affidavit, Raymond and Kilby told deputies they believed Miranda was killing dogs to make room for new animals arriving from contracting shelters.<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned that Jennifer and Jenna placed trail game cameras to monitor activity on the field just north of Jennifer\u2018s property. They also cleared and trimmed the lower portion of the hedges to allow surveying Shannon in his field,\u201d said Aguilera. \u201cOn April 26, 2026, Jennifer and Jenna watched the surveillance recordings and discovered footage of what they believed were dogs being dumped in a large grave site located in the field. Between 2030 hours and 2100 hours, Jennifer and Jenna trespassed onto Shannon\u2019s property by crossing the hole in the fence. The two dug out eight dogs from a large hole. They described the dogs as warm to the touch; they were bleeding, and some had holes on their heads that resembled gunshot wounds. They believed that the dogs were under Shannon\u2019s care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Raymond and Kilby\u00a0have years of experience working with animals and operate their own rescues. They scanned the dogs and obtained chip information from six of the eight recovered dogs.<\/p>\n

One of the dogs recovered, a dog named Zora, had been transferred to Miranda\u2019s Rescue from Oakland Animal Services on March 31. Oakland officials told investigators Zora was healthy, had no behavioral issues, and was expected to be adopted out.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Miranda told deputies he had euthanized several animals including horses, a yak, a goat, and multiple dogs, and acknowledged using a firearm in what he described as emergencies. He denied killing Zora and said he had adopted her out, a claim investigators say was contradicted by microchip data and statements from Oakland staff. Miranda later admitted to lying about Zora.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on Shannon\u2018s not being truthful with Humboldt County sheriff\u2019s office or the Oakland animal shelter, it is my belief that Shannon intentionally killed Zora in order to receive more dogs and the funds that came with the dogs,\u201d said Aguilera. \u201cI believe a search of Shannon\u2018s residence and Miranda\u2018s Rescue will yield additional evidence, including records, indicating that Shannon violated California Penal Code 5978 based on Shannon killing the dogs for financial gain and failing to provide the exact services guaranteed to his associate.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Aguilera also noted a concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on Shannon being aware of my investigation, I believe that he is prepared and able to destroy evidence that could be obtained with the execution of a search warrant,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Financial motive outlined<\/h4>\n

Miranda\u2019s Rescue is advertised as a no\u2011kill nonprofit animal rescue and sanctuary. Miranda\u2019s Rescue contracts with multiple California shelters, including Oakland Animal Services, Contra Costa County, Solano County, Monterey County, Ferndale, Fortuna, Berkeley Animal Services, Palm Springs, and Rio Dell. Payments range from $400 to $1,450 per dog, depending on the agency. Only one contract with Solano County Animal Care explicitly prohibits euthanizing dogs to create space.<\/p>\n

Investigators estimate Miranda\u2019s Rescue received more than 600 dogs in the past year from these shelters alone, generating roughly $510,000 in payments. This data does not include any animals privately surrendered to Miranda\u2018s Rescue. Oakland Animal Services had transferred 445 animals between 2023 and 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese numbers are estimated based on documents that were provided to me by Lieutenant Brandon Head with the Humboldt County Sheriff\u2019s Office; these documents were obtained by the reporting parties Jenna Kilby and Jennifer Raymond, who submitted a public record request to the above-mentioned entities,\u201d said the warrant.<\/p>\n

What deputies were looking for<\/h4>\n

Deputies searched for veterinary records, intake logs, dog adoption files, financial ledgers, surveillance footage, and tools or blunt objects that could be used in the event of euthanizing a dog or animal. Investigators were also authorized to seize firearms, ammunition, and any digital evidence, including computers, phones, tablets, or surveillance systems. Deputies were also authorized to force entry into locked structures, compel passcodes or biometric unlocking of digital devices, and continue forensic examinations off-site.<\/p>\n

The warrant describes the property in detail, listing it as a chain\u2011link\u2011fenced sanctuary with kennels, barns, storage containers, a modular home, and Miranda\u2019s two\u2011story residence marked by an entry arch with a large \u201cM.\u201d Investigators were instructed to photograph and map the site, including all animals, vehicles, and people present during the search.<\/p>\n

The sheriff\u2019s office has not released what deputies found on the electronic devices during the operation, whether any additional dogs were recovered, or if they had excavated any sites.<\/p>\n

What deputies seized<\/h4>\n

The warrant lists multiple electronic devices, including an iPhone, iPad, laptop, and flash drive, along with several firearms and ammunition, including a Beretta pistol, Remington shotgun, pellet gun, Ruger rifle, BB gun, and multiple boxes of varying sizes of ammunition that were taken as evidence from the site.<\/p>\n

The investigation is ongoing.<\/p>\n

How to help<\/h4>\n

The Humboldt County Sheriff\u2019s Office requests that anyone with tips call 707-268-2539.<\/p>\n

Read more CCS baseball roundup: Top seed St. Francis eliminates defending champ Serra<\/a><\/p>\n

Maranda Vargas can be reached at 707-441-0504<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Detective Julian Aguilera wrote that he believed Miranda’s Rescue founder Shannon Miranda may have \u201cmurdered these dogs so that he could accept more from Oakland Animal Services for financial gain,\u201d according to the affidavit obtained this week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":335,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news"],"yoast_head":"\nSearch warrant alleges rescue shelter took in 600+ dogs — including those from Oakland — generated $510K in past year - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=336\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Search warrant alleges rescue shelter took in 600+ dogs — including those from Oakland — generated $510K in past year - 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