A Northern California animal rescue that billed itself as a safe haven for unwanted dogs is now at the center of a disturbing investigation after authorities say several dogs transferred there from Bay Area shelters were found shot and buried on the property.

The allegations, outlined in a Humboldt County search warrant affidavit, have prompted both Oakland Animal Services and Berkeley Animal Care Services to sever ties with the rescue as investigators work to determine what happened to hundreds of dogs sent there over the years.

Investigators recovered eight dead dogs from the rescue property in Humboldt County, about 4.5 hours north of San Francisco, according to the affidavit obtained by ABC7. At least one of those dogs had recently been transferred from the Bay Area.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release on Wednesday that the Major Crimes Division is investigating Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna, California, over “credible allegations of felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud and conspiracy.”

As of Friday, neither the owner of the rescue nor any employees had been charged.

The investigation began on April 22 after two women contacted the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, claiming the rescue was taking in dogs primarily for financial gain.

One of the women, Jennifer Raymond, who owns a spay-and-neuter clinic in Humboldt County, said she had been concerned about the rescue for years and that she bought property next door to monitor the operation.

Raymond and the other woman had obtained trail camera footage that appeared to show dead dogs being dumped in a field. After noticing a mound of dirt on the property, the women entered the property at night and began digging, she told investigators, according to the affidavit.

“I began digging, and I continued, and I uncovered a dog,” Raymond said. “Its muzzle was covered in dried blood. Their bodies were still warm.”

“It was gruesome. I will never forget the sight of those dogs with blood dripping out of their noses, out of their mouths, out of their ears,” she added.

Eight dogs were recovered and several appeared to have bullet holes in their heads, according to the affidavit. Raymond acknowledged she trespassed onto the property and said she is prepared to face the consequences.

Deputies executed a search warrant on May 1 seeking records, contracts, financial documents and other evidence. At the time of the search, the rescue was already over capacity.

Investigators said six of the eight recovered dogs had microchips. One was identified as Zora, a dog transferred from Oakland Animal Services less than a month earlier. The affidavit states the rescue owner previously sent Oakland Animal Services a photo of Zora on a leash alongside the message, “Zora adopted,” before the dog was later identified among the dead animals.

According to the affidavit, the rescue owner denied killing and dumping the dogs, but later told investigators he was not operating a no-kill shelter and had done the best he could with limited resources. He added that animals were typically euthanized by a veterinarian, though he sometimes shot animals himself when immediate action was necessary to prevent suffering.

In a Facebook post that has since been deleted, the owner allegedly wrote: “Many of you, like me, have been appalled by the allegations we’ve read in the media and online. Not everything we’re seeing is true. A legal process is now underway to sort the facts from the lies. I have cared for thousands of animals and devoted 31 years of my life to the rescue. I intend to vigorously defend myself and continue this important work.”

Authorities allege the rescue received more than 600 dogs from shelters over the past year, along with an estimated $510,000 in funding.

Oakland Animal Services transferred 445 animals to the rescue between 2023 and 2025, according to the affidavit. Investigators estimate those transfers generated roughly $178,000 in payments at about $400 per dog.

“It is my belief that (the rescue) murdered these dogs so that he could accept more from Oakland Animal Services for financial gain,” a Humboldt County investigator wrote in the affidavit.

Oakland and Berkeley officials said they will no longer transfer dogs to the rescue. Berkeley officials said at least 22 dogs had been sent there since the start of 2025, and the city is still trying to determine what happened to those animals.

“Just sick to my stomach. There’s been a lot of tears shed here at the shelter,” said Joe DeVries, director of Oakland Animal Services. “When we see a partner, and we see hope, we put our hope and our trust in them, and to see it violated like that, it’s just devastating.”

The animals living at the property are being monitored by Humboldt County Animal Control, and the rescue appears to remain operational, officials said. No arrests have been made but authorities say the investigation is ongoing.