Mabel and Fergus were supposed to be adopted. That's what Miranda's Rescue told Palm Springs Animal Shelter — and shelter staff believed them. Instead, both dogs were among the 117 canine remains found buried at the organization's Humboldt County property during an ongoing animal cruelty and fraud investigation.

Six dogs transferred from Palm Springs Animal Shelter — Mabel, Creek, Fergus, Éclair, Felicia, and Farkle — were identified by microchip among the dead. More than 600 dog collars and evidence of gunshot wounds were also found at the site. These were healthy, behaviorally sound animals. They deserved better. So did the shelter staff, volunteers, and community members who trusted that a rescue partner would keep them safe.

This can't happen again. We're calling on California animal welfare officials and legislators to require independent vetting of rescue organizations before any public shelter transfers animals to them — and to mandate ongoing, microchip-verified outcome tracking so "adopted" means adopted, not buried in a field.

Sign this petition to demand real oversight for shelter rescue partnerships — because Mabel, Farkle, Felicia, Creek, Fergus, and Éclair deserved to find their families.