Watch: Sonoma Valley Kennel Mistakenly Drawn Into Humboldt Dog Investigation

SONOMA VALLEY, CA — A Sonoma Valley pet boarding facility is battling attacks by phone and online after being confused with the embattled dog rescue at the center of a criminal investigation 200 miles and two counties way.

Employees of the Maranda Ranch Kennels in Sonoma County say they have become an unintended victim of the criminal investigation surrounding Miranda Rescue in Humboldt County, with attacks from people who mistakenly believe the two operations are connected.

In a Facebook video, an employee said the family-owned kennel has received numerous hostile phone calls and online criticism because its name closely resembles Miranda Rescue, where authorities are investigating allegations involving the deaths of hundreds of animals.

What happened in Humboldt County is "absolutely disgusting and deplorable behavior," Makenna Overzet said in the video. "We really are hoping that justice is served."

Maranda Ranch, in contrast, is a boarding and daycare facility near Schellville, about 200 miles from the Humboldt County rescue.

The kennel has operated since the late 1990s. Maribeth Byerley and her late husband, Dave Byerley, took over the business in 1999 and built a reputation caring for dogs and cats, while occasionally providing refuge for rescued alpacas, donkeys, and water buffalo, Overzet said.

Overzet, Maranda's social media manager, told Patch the kennel first bore the brunt of the confusion when news of the Humboldt County investigation became public.

The problem intensified after authorities excavated the Miranda Rescue property, prompting another wave of calls from people asking to speak with the Humboldt County facility's owner, Shannon Miranda, or accusing the Sonoma County business of animal abuse.

The confusion has also spread across social media and online recommendation forums, where some commenters have warned others to avoid Maranda Ranch Kennels because they mistakenly believe it is connected to the Humboldt County rescue, Overzet said Tuesday.

Internet searches frequently direct people to the Sonoma kennel when they misspell "Miranda" as "Maranda," increasing the likelihood of mistaken identity, Overzet said.

Overzet said the family does not want to change the kennel's name because it has spent decades building its reputation and customer base.

Clients have supported the business throughout the ordeal, she said, helping correct misinformation online while encouraging prospective customers to verify they have the correct facility.

But employees have also discussed workplace violence procedures after receiving several menacing calls and worrying that someone could target the kennel because of the mistaken identity.

"Before reaching out and accusing a business of something so awful, make sure you do your research and actually have the right place," Overzet said Tuesday. "Be a little bit more careful."

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