An animal trainer and his girlfriend were arrested in Irvine after police connected them to the deaths of at least ten dogs. The couple, identified as 53-year-old Kwong “Tony” Chun Sit and 23-year-old Tingfeng Liu, face charges of animal cruelty and destruction of evidence.
The investigation began when a pet owner reported to the Irvine Police Department that their dog trainer had informed them their dog had died in its sleep and had already been cremated. This raised suspicions, as the owner felt their healthy dog should not have died unexpectedly.
Police spokesperson Kyle Oldoerp explained that this initial report led to further inquiry, revealing that the situation involved not just one dog, but a total of ten. Most of these dogs are believed to have died on the same day. Authorities are now looking for more potential victims as part of their investigation.
One dog, which died last week, was cremated, and its remains are currently with the family. It appears that nine other dogs died around the same time, and the deceased animals were taken to various crematoriums. Police believe they have recovered all the bodies and are working with veterinary professionals to perform necropsies to determine the cause of death.
Oldoerp mentioned that if all the dogs died from the same cause, it could suggest an accidental poisoning. However, if the causes differ, it would lead investigators down a different path. Even if the deaths are found to be accidental, the charges could still stand, as the trainer is responsible for the well-being of the animals in his care.
There are indications that Sit and Liu attempted to destroy evidence by cremating the dogs. Sit has operated in Southern California under various business names, including “Happy K9 Academy.”
In light of this situation, dog owners who believe their pets died while in Sit’s care have taken to social media, calling for justice. Aimee Gutierrez shared her heartbreak on Instagram after her family rescued a 9-month-old Belgian Malinois named Saint, only to learn she had died shortly after being sent to a trainer.
The Irvine Police Department is urging anyone with information about this case or whose dog died while in Sit’s care to come forward.