IRVINE, Calif. — An Orange County jury has convicted a Southern California dog trainer on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after prosecutors said he caused the deaths of 11 dogs placed in his care and attempted to hide evidence connected to the animals’ deaths.
Kwong “Tony” Chun Sit, 54, owner of Happy K9 Academy in Irvine, was found guilty of 11 felony counts of animal cruelty, seven misdemeanor counts of attempted destruction of evidence, and one misdemeanor count of destroying evidence, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The convictions followed a lengthy investigation into a series of suspicious canine deaths tied to the training and boarding business.
Authorities said the case began in June 2025 when a dog owner became suspicious after Sit informed him that his pet had unexpectedly died in its sleep and had already been cremated. The explanation prompted the owner to contact authorities, leading the Irvine Police Department’s Animal Services Unit to open an investigation.
Detectives traced the remains of several dogs to different crematoriums and uncovered evidence linking numerous deaths to animals that had been entrusted to Happy K9 Academy for training and boarding programs lasting from one to four weeks. Investigators determined that two of the dogs had already been cremated, preventing pathologists from establishing a cause of death.
Examinations of the remaining dogs revealed disturbing findings. Prosecutors said eight animals died from heat stroke, while another died as a result of blunt force trauma. Authorities alleged that Sit attempted to conceal what had happened by arranging for the dogs’ remains to be cremated and providing misleading explanations to owners.
Sit’s girlfriend, 24-year-old Tingfeng Liu, was also convicted. Jurors found her guilty of accessory to a felony, destruction of evidence, and attempted destruction of evidence charges stemming from her role in the case.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer condemned the conduct revealed during the trial, describing the abuse and subsequent efforts to conceal evidence as unacceptable. He emphasized that those entrusted with the care of animals have a responsibility to protect them and that deliberate mistreatment will be prosecuted aggressively.
The case sparked outrage among pet owners and animal welfare advocates throughout Southern California, many of whom followed the proceedings closely. Several families whose pets died while in Sit’s custody have expressed relief that the case resulted in convictions, though they continue to mourn the loss of beloved companions.
Sit faces a maximum possible sentence of 13 years and 11 months in state prison. Liu faces up to four years behind bars. Sentencing dates are expected to be scheduled by the court in the coming months.
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