A California dog trainer has been convicted in the deaths of 11 dogs after authorities say the animals died while in his care.
Kwong “Tony” Chun Sit, 54, of Irvine, was convicted of 11 felony counts of animal cruelty, seven misdemeanor counts of attempting to destroy evidence, and one misdemeanor count of destroying evidence, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday, June 17.
He now faces a maximum sentence of 13 years and 11 months in prison.
Sit’s girlfriend, 24-year-old Tingfeng Liu, was also convicted. Prosecutors said she was found guilty of one felony count of accessory to a felony, one misdemeanor count of destruction of evidence, and two misdemeanor counts of attempted destruction of evidence. She faces a maximum sentence of four years.
Sit operated Happy K9 Academy, a dog training and boarding business that advertised programs lasting from one to four weeks. The services reportedly cost between $999 and $3,399.
The investigation began in June 2025 after one dog owner contacted authorities with a disturbing report. According to prosecutors, Sit had texted the owner claiming the dog had died in its sleep and had already been “lovingly cremated.”
“There were no signs of pain or struggle, and it was truly unexpected. I am deeply saddened by this loss,” Sit allegedly wrote in the June 18, 2025, message, according to the district attorney’s office.
But when Irvine police began investigating, the case quickly became much bigger.
The Irvine Police Department’s Animal Services Unit recovered the bodies of multiple dogs from different crematoriums. Prosecutors said the first dog was dropped off on June 12, 2025. Ten more were dropped off on June 18, 2025.
Two of the dogs had already been cremated, meaning investigators could not determine their causes of death. Of the remaining nine dogs, eight died from heat stroke, while the ninth died from blunt force trauma.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer condemned Sit and Liu in a blistering statement.
“The greatest fear dogs have is that you will never return when you leave them behind, and because of the unbelievably cruel actions of Mr. Sit and Miss Liu, that fear became a tragic reality for 11 dogs who will never have the chance to reunite with their families,” Spitzer said.
He went even further when describing the death of one puppy.
“There is a special place in hell for someone who abuses animals, and there is an extra special place in hell for someone who could beat a puppy to death and then feign being heartbroken over her death knowing full well that he is the reason that puppy died such a horrific death,” Spitzer said.
He added that animal abuse “will never be tolerated” and said abusers will be held accountable under the full weight of the law.
The convictions have horrified pet owners, especially those who trust trainers and boarding facilities to keep their animals safe. For the families of the 11 dogs, what was supposed to be temporary care ended in heartbreaking loss.
