An Irvine couple is facing serious charges after the deaths of at least 11 dogs in their care. Kwong “Tony” Chun Sit, 53, and his girlfriend Tingfeng Liu, 23, were arrested last week on allegations of animal cruelty and destruction of evidence. Their dog training business, K9 Academy, is now under scrutiny following reports from dog owners who found the circumstances of their pets’ deaths suspicious.
The investigation began when one dog owner received a message from Sit claiming their dog had died peacefully in its sleep and had already been cremated. This prompted the owner to contact the authorities, leading to a deeper investigation by the Irvine Police Department’s Animal Services Unit.
Officials discovered that at least 11 dogs had died while in Sit’s care. They confirmed that two of these dogs succumbed to heatstroke, while another died from blunt-force trauma. Alarmingly, some dogs were cremated before any examinations could take place, raising further concerns about the couple’s actions.
According to the Orange County district attorney’s office, the couple is now facing a total of 30 charges. Sit is charged with 11 felony counts of animal cruelty, 11 felony counts of animal abuse by a caretaker, seven misdemeanor counts of attempting to destroy evidence, and one misdemeanor count of destroying evidence. Liu faces four counts, including one felony count of accessory to a felony.
The couple was reportedly ready to flee when they were arrested, which led to an increase in their bail to $550,000. If convicted, Sit could face up to 13 years in prison, while Liu could receive a maximum of four years.
K9 Academy offered various training programs, with prices ranging from $999 to $3,999. Authorities are concerned there may be more victims, as Sit has operated under different business names throughout Southern California.
The case has sparked outrage among pet owners and animal advocates. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed disgust at the couple’s actions, stating that no animal deserves such treatment and that the abuse of any animal will not be tolerated.
Anyone with information about this case or whose dog may have died in Sit’s care is urged to contact local authorities.