The Daily Populous Saturday July 5th, 2025 morning edition
Authored by foxla.com and submitted by rytis

The Brief Multiple dog owners who used Kwong (Tony) Chun Sit's services reported getting a text message from him saying their dog had died in their sleep and was already cremated. Sit and his girlfriend Tingfeng Liu are facing multiple felony charges. Autopsies performed on some of the animals show they died of heatstroke and at least one from blunt force trauma.

Several heartbroken dog owners are speaking out and seeking justice after an Irvine dog trainer was charged with the death of 11 dogs.

Dog trainer Kwong (Tony) Chun Sit, 53, and his girlfriend Tingfeng Liu, 23, appeared in court Tuesday pleading not guilty. Last week they were formally charged with multiple felony counts after an investigation revealed that 11 dogs died while in his care.

Sit is facing 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 is facing one felony count of accessory to a felony, one misdemeanor count of destruction of evidence, and two misdemeanor counts of attempted destruction of evidence.

Tingfeng Liu and Kwong (Tony) Chun Sit in court Tuesday, July 1, 2025

According to Irvine Police, they recovered the bodies of 11 dogs from different crematoriums that had been dropped off by either Sit or Liu. Autopsies performed on some of the animals show they died of heatstroke and at least one from blunt force trauma.

Sit was a trainer at Happy K9 Academy.

Multiple dog owners report getting a text message from Sit saying their dog had died in its sleep and was already cremated… without the owner's knowledge.

One after another, dog owners spoke Tuesday at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach as Sit and Liu sat in court.

"On the day we were supposed to pick him up, June 18th, I got a text message from Tony Sit, who was the trainer… that he's been lovingly cremated," dog owner Mariz Arcangel said crying. "I was trying to get him to become my service dog since I am veteran."

Aimee Gutierrez was expecting to get a progress video of Saint but instead got the heartbreaking message many other also received.

"We went public on Facebook with the story of not knowing what to do and finding out there were so many other victims that was definitely a shock," said dog owner Yadira Adan.

It's unimaginable for the adults and heartbreaking for the children.

"This is the hardest part, is them [kids] not understanding what happened, why it happened and losing a friend like that," Adan added.

Both suspects are fighting their very high bail, which is over half a million dollars.

Prosecutors explain they were packed with passports to China when they were arrested, so they are considered a flight risk.

Investigators also believe there are additional victims and urge them to come forward.

I_argue_for_funsies on July 4th, 2025 at 19:11 UTC »

Imagine you're on the beach on holiday in a foreign country and you get a text message...

"Your dog has died and has already been cremated"

wwwhistler on July 4th, 2025 at 16:29 UTC »

if this happened to me

i am not sure i could keep from going to jail.

for committing a very vicious assault. and a severe beating.

TicketWilling6080 on July 4th, 2025 at 16:13 UTC »

Unforgivable and unforgivable . I’m sorry for your loss. I hope you get justice