Dog Skulls and Hundreds of Collars Found at California Animal Sanctuary.

Authorities excavated open fields at Miranda’s Rescue Animal Sanctuary in search of evidence of animals believed to be buried in mass graves. About 600 dog collars were also found.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said Friday that it had discovered 21 canine skulls, hundreds of bones and other remains during searches at Miranda’s Rescue Animal Sanctuary, a 50-acre facility in Fortuna, California. Investigators searching the site on Thursday found an area in a barn where they believe dogs were likely killed, the sheriff’s office said. More than 600 dog collars were found nearby, and many of the dead dogs had gunshot wounds, authorities said.

Local media outlets reported that the investigation was launched after a neighbor admitted to entering the property without permission in April and digging up what they believed were buried dogs. According to an affidavit from an earlier search of the property, the sheriff’s office was tipped off by two animal advocates, one of whom owns property adjoining the shelter and used trail cameras to monitor activity near an alleged burial site. The affidavit said the advocates later went onto the shelter property and dug up dog remains.

The shelter’s owner and operator, Shannon Miranda, said in an online statement before the discovery on the property that media coverage and online commentary about the case "have presented an incomplete and, in some cases, inaccurate picture" of the facility. The sanctuary owner asked the public to consider all the facts before reaching conclusions.

Miranda is not facing any criminal charges in the investigation. Officials had been investigating potential fraud or animal cruelty after hundreds of animals were discovered missing from the facility.