KHON2: Miranda's Rescue Investigation

HONOLULU (KHON2) — A California animal sanctuary is under investigation after officials found 117 canine remains buried in mass graves on the property in Fortuna. Two of the dogs found dead were from Maui Humane Society.

The dogs were identified by their registered microchips as Kloe and Oliwa.

On July 15, Maui Humane posted the update on social media, calling the news “devastating” and “heart wrenching.”

“Kloe and Oliwa mattered here. They weren’t just dogs passing through our shelter. They were a part of our family. Everyone who cared for Kloe and Oliwa believed that they were headed toward a better life. We carry that loss with us now,” said Keani Kapeliela-Bannister, Dog Care Manager at Maui Humane Society.

According to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, many of the dogs died from gunshot wounds.

Maui Humane said 18 dogs were transferred to Miranda’s Rescue between 2024 and 2026.

These dogs were transferred with the intention of helping locate forever homes for them, the organization said.

“As soon as we learned of the investigations, we reached out to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office directly to offer our full cooperation and we provided a complete list of every dog we transferred. Names, photos, microchip numbers right away,” Kapeliela-Bannister said. “The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office sent a team to scan the microchips of all remaining living dogs on their campus on May 6, and it was determined none of those living dogs belonged to MHS.”

Transfer partnerships with other rescue organizations and shelters are intended to broaden adoption chances and manage shelter capacity, Maui Humane said in a statement on July 1.

Kapeliela-Bannister called transfer partnerships “a lifeline in animal welfare.”

“When a dog is matched with a partner, that’s a moment we celebrate because it means they’re one step closer to a home,” she said.

“What happened at Miranda’s Rescue is a betrayal of that system, not a reflection of it.”

Keani Kapeliela-Bannister

It’s unclear how many dogs were killed, but investigators said more than 600 dog collars were found inside a barn believed to be were the dogs died.

Maui Humane said it has a vetting process in place for all transfer partners and are actively reviewing and strengthening the protocols to ensure the highest standard of animal welfare.

“The most meaningful way we know to honor them is to make sure it drives real change. Stronger protections, so no animal we love ends up where they did,” Kapeliela-Bannister said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Read the full article here.

KHON2: Miranda’s Rescue Investigation

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