Bay Area shelters cut ties with rescue after records claim dogs found shot, buried

Oakland Animal Services and Berkeley Animal Care Services ended ties with a Northern California rescue after authorities investigated allegations that dogs sent there were killed and buried while still being reported as adopted. A Humboldt County search warrant affidavit states investigators recovered eight dead dogs from the rescue property. The affidavit alleges at least one dead dog had recently been transferred from the Bay Area. Oakland Animal Services transferred 445 animals to the rescue between 2023 and 2025, and investigators estimate payments of about $178,000 at $400 per dog. The rescue received more than 600 dogs from shelters in the past year, with estimated payments of about $510,000. The investigation began after concerns and trail camera video suggested dead dogs were dumped in a field.

"Several Bay Area animal shelters have cut ties with a self-proclaimed no-kill rescue in Northern California as authorities investigate allegations that dogs sent there were killed and buried while still being reported as adopted. Both Oakland Animal Services and Berkeley Animal Care Services have cut ties with the rescue."

"A search warrant affidavit filed in Humboldt County says investigators recently recovered eight dead dogs from the rescue's property. The affidavit alleges at least one of the dogs found dead had recently been transferred from the Bay Area. The rescue is about 4.5 hours north of San Francisco."

"According to the affidavit, taken by an investigator with the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, Oakland Animal Services alone transferred 445 animals to the rescue between 2023 and 2025. At $400 per dog, investigators estimate those transfers may have generated about $178,000. The affidavit also says the rescue received more than 600 dogs from shelters in the past year, along with an estimated $510,000 in payments."

"Shelters often partner with rescues like this when they run out of room, paying them to take in dogs, care for them and help find them homes. The investigation began April 22, when two women contacted the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office with concerns about the rescue taking in dogs simply for financial reasons. According to the affidavit, the women obtained trail camera video they say appeared to show dead dogs being dumped in a field."

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