Fact-check analysisVerified as of June 28, 2026Curated by FactVerify
True

117 Dead Dogs, Many with Gunshot Wounds, Found at ‘No-Kill’ Animal Rescue

The claim that 117 dead dogs, many with gunshot wounds, were found at a 'no-kill' animal rescue is true because multiple independent and reliable news sources report consistent findings from official investigations at the California shelter.

‘Horrific scene’: 117 dead dogs, many with gunshot wounds found at ‘no-kill’ animal rescue shelter

‘Horrific scene’: 117 dead dogs, many with gunshot wounds found at ‘no-kill’ animal rescue shelter

Source: cleveland19.com

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified June 28, 2026
  • Humboldt County Sheriff's Office recovered 117 intact dead dogs at Mirandas Rescue in Fortuna, California.

  • Many dogs had gunshot wounds or bullet fragments confirmed by investigators.

  • The discovery was widely reported by major national and international news outlets with consistent details.

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

Multiple reputable news organizations, including People, NBC News, The Guardian, AP News, BBC, ABC News, and local outlets such as Cleveland19 and 10News, have reported on the discovery of 117 dead dogs at Mirandas Rescue, a facility in northern California that identified itself as a no-kill animal shelter. The remains were found in various states of decomposition across several dig sites on the property.

Authorities from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office confirmed that many of these dogs showed evidence of gunshot wounds or bullet fragments. The reports consistently describe the scene as horrific and part of an ongoing investigation into alleged animal abuse at the rescue. There is no significant contradictory information among these sources regarding the number of dogs found or the presence of gunshot wounds.

The convergence of multiple independent sources and official statements supports the accuracy of the claim.

Primary trail

Verified Sources8

117 Dead Dogs, Many with Gunshot Wounds, Found at ‘No-Kill’ Animal Rescue:...

people.com
Open source

‘Horrific scene’: 117 dead dogs, many with gunshot wounds found at ‘no-kill’...

cleveland19.com
Open source

117 dead dogs found at 'no-kill' animal rescue

bbc.com
Open source
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