Behavior Education

https://youtu.be/JV2PgHBfeYA?is=7IhytRlUaKFHnoVo

Neglected Snake Update: Mr. Tumnus 29 June 2026 Mr. Tumnus is one of 67 Royal Pythons (Python regius) relinquished ...

Donegan arrived a year ago today. He is privately owned and here for boarding and training. He endured the wind this afternoon while taking advantage of his open space.

https://youtu.be/fvN6upTHWKw?si=ZsPTEJYcvZp7g8F8

This is an extremely disturbing case. While the investigation is ongoing and everyone deserves due process, the allegations alone raise serious concerns about the welfare of the animals involved and about the systems intended to protect them. I realize many people are waiting for answers about animals they entrusted to Miranda's Rescue with the expectation they would receive protection and care. This case is a reminder of why accountability matters in animal welfare.

No system can completely prevent fraud or animal neglect, but licensing, inspections, recordkeeping, transparency, and outside oversight are important safeguards. A 501(c)(3) designation, registration with the state as a charitable organization, and licensing as a shelter or sanctuary are not guarantees that animals will be protected or cared for appropriately. However, they do provide mechanisms for accountability and independent oversight that organizations operating outside those systems often lack.

Those of us working in legitimate rescues, shelters, and sanctuaries know how difficult this work is. Ethical organizations frequently operate at capacity and are forced to make heartbreaking decisions because there are simply more animals in need than there are available spaces. The reality is not a shortage of animals needing rescue, but a shortage of resources to care for them responsibly.

The sanctuary I work with, Spirit Keeper Animal Sanctuary, does not charge relinquishment or adoption fees. Every intake and every adoption is individually evaluated by staff, voted on by our Board of Directors, thoroughly documented, and subject to inspection under Colorado's PACFA program. That does not make us perfect, but it does mean our work is transparent and accountable.

This story has deeply affected many of us. I have spoken with members of the Board and volunteers at Spirit Keeper Animal Sanctuary, and like so many people in the animal welfare community, they are heartbroken by the allegations and by the uncertainty surrounding so many animals.

Cases like this damage public trust in every legitimate rescue and sanctuary. That is why transparency, ethical practices, and meaningful oversight are so important. The animals deserve nothing less.

Lori Torrini, MPS, BSc, AAS, UW-AAB, FFCP, CPDT-KA
Behavior Education at Spirit Keeper Animal Sanctuary
Colorado, USA

More than 730 animals unaccounted for as investigators dig at Miranda’s Rescue property Investigators excavating the Miranda’s Rescue property in Fortuna s...