About us
MIRANDA'S RESCUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Shannon Miranda
Vice Presient: Nancy Cavanaugh
Treasurer: Dean Paris
Director: Brian Paris
DOG & CAT ADOPTION STAFF
Susan Lacy - Adoption Mgr / Dogs
Kathy Pollard - Cats
LARGE ANIMALS & EXOTICS
Shannon Miranda
RANCH HAND
James Robertson
THRIFT STORE DISTRICT MANAGER
Brian Paris
Miranda's Rescue has been recognized by the California State Assembly as the "Best Sanctuary For Abused Animals in Northern California" & the Red Cross named founder, Shannon Miranda, one of "Humboldt County's Heroes". The California State Assembly also recognized Shannon for his help with the probation youth of Humboldt County.
Miranda's Rescue For Large & Small Animals is a no-kill rescue, adoption & sanctuary facility that brings relief to hundreds of distressed, neglected, abused & discarded animals, large & small, every year. We are a non-profit 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt public charity organziation, EIN #68-0417389. As a no-kill facility, we do not euthanize animals to make room for new intakes. Any animal that is deemed adoptable will live at the sanctuary until a loving and permanent home is found. This includes, but not limited to, dogs, cats, horses, reptiles, small mammals, domestic and game birds, tropical birds, livestock, & exotic animals such as alpacas, emus & llamas. There's nothing we won't rescue. We've even had camels residing here before. Many of the animals are adopted out to loving homes while others live permanently on the rescue grounds as sanctuary residents.
The rescue operates financially with proceeds from their thrift shops in Fortuna, Eureka & McKinleyville along with adoption fees, creative fundraising projects & donations from the private sector. We receive no government funding. If you would like to donate you can click on the donate tab on our website or call 707.616.5018 & donate with a credit card over the phone, or stop by one of our thrift stores and leave a check or cash at the front counter or you can mail a check to Mirandas Rescue, 1603 Sandy Prairie Rd. Fortuna, CA 95540.
The rescue would not be where it is today without its hardworking and dedicated staff & volunteers. The rescue operation team is presently 60 strong! Bless all of you for believing in the rescue's mission...to save all animals! Whether you made a contribution, adopted one of our furry companions, transported animals, shopped at one of our stores, worked at an event, cleaned a horse stall, walked a dog, cleaned an enclosure or kennel, sorted clothing or answered phones we want to sincerely say to you - THANK YOU for your support in helping make our community a better place to live.
Miranda's Rescue, a Partner in the Community...
OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM works with Humboldt County's Calworks & Welfare to Work Social Services Branch which help welfare applicants find jobs, the Eureka & Fortuna High Schools Transition Partnership Program, & to foster teens in the Step Up Program. The rescue invites challenged adults from the Diane Cathey Center to come to the thrift shops to dust and wash clothes and visit the rescue to pet cats & dogs. Other outreach programs include working with The Volunteer of the Redwoods Senior Center & Experience Works for seniors. Many of Humboldt County's troubled youth & adults come to the rescue through the probation program to work off their community service hours too. Our thrift shops accept clothing vouchers from the Fortuna & Rio Dell Family Resource Centers, The Wiyot Tribe & Humboldt County's Public Health Social Services Dept. For more information, call our Treasurer at 707.616.5018
OUR THRIFT SHOPS DONATE clothing, furniture & other neccessities to help low-income and/or disaster relief families. The rescue also gives warm clothing & blankets to the homeless as well as provide other organizations vital materials to aid their outreach programs.
THE RESCUE DONATES unlimited usuage of the rescue's arena to teach foster children how to ride & care for rescued horses. The children along with the horses unfortunately have come from abusive situations. The bond made between them is therapy not only for the children, but for the horses too.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO ONE OF OUR THRIFT STORES, acceptable items should be clean & in good condition for resale. This includes, but not limited to, clothing, furniture, small kitchen appliances, housewares, antiques, knick knacks, bedding, sports & exercise equipment, flooring, tools, carpet remnants, throw rugs, book, movies, cds, shoes, jewelry & electrical. If you have any concerns or questions regarding our thrift stores, contact our District Manager at 707.616.5743.
Don't forget to make adoption your first option at Miranda's Rescue. Please spay & neuter your pets! If you have question, email us at
info@mirandasrescue.org or visit us at www.mirandasrescue.org.
SHELTER HISTORY
Shannon Miranda grew up in Ferndale, CA (Pop. 1,400)...home of the famous “Avenue of the Giants” (Redwood Trees). Contrary to his nature, he was born into a family of hunters and grew up saving whatever critter he could. He gained respect and experience while training mustangs in high school.
In October ’94, Shannon’s life forever changed. While working at a local lumber mill, he fell 30ft through an unstable floor, which left him wheelchair bound with a broken neck and back. The diagnosis was that he would never walk again. For Shannon Miranda, this was a “wake-up call”. He was seriously injured and unable to return to any form of a structured job and father to a 5 day old son. Shannon is not one to lie around feeling sorry for himself. Working with animals was his true calling. Raising his son and doing rescue work became his form of physical and emotional therapy.
It was one year before he was out of the wheelchair and walking again. And by that time, he had already acquired a menagerie of rescued horses, cats, dogs, rabbits, a possum, and a family of raccoons, even guinea pigs. Needless to say, with an ever-growing need of animals in search of loving homes, Shannon’s rescue quickly outgrew its surroundings at his trailor home in Ferndale. He soon moved to the Ferndale Coppini Dairy. It was here in 1998 that he incorporated as the nonprofit, Miranda’s Rescue For Large and Small Animals; a no-kill rescue, adoption and sanctuary facility.
The rescue is a “no-kill” facility meaning that an animal that is deemed adoptable or reasonably treatable could find sanctuary at Miranda’s Rescue until a loving, permanent home can be found for them. Believing in controlling the pet population, all cats & dogs are spayed or neutered before placement.
His operation was such a success that within four years Shannon once again outgrew his spot on Coppini Lane. In late 2001, the rescue moved to a 50 acre ranch that had 30 usuable acres to build on. It came complete with a barn, horse trails near the Eel River to excercise the horses & bordered the greenway boardwalk to walk the dogs. Ironically, it was the very same place where he began learning about animals during his teen years with his friend Bonnie Tanferani who operated, what she called a Funny Farm for Animals.
For the past serveral years, Shannon has co-operated the rescue with Dean Paris, who moved to the area from Boston, MA. With Shannon’s knowledge of animals and Dean’s business background, they have become an invincible team not only in their professional career, but together in life.
Presently Shannon and Dean along with their children, Blake, Mikayla and Logan all work together to help the people and animals of Humboldt County.
Left Shannon Miranda & Dean Paris pictured here with two great friends/volunteers - Right Shannon, Blake, Mikayla & Logan riding in the Fortuna Rodeo Parade (photo by Dado Dean!)
Above is our good friend Rachel and Breezer. He is one of the many lifetime sanctuary animals at the rescue.
