Trainer Convicted
Irvine Dog Trainer, 54, Convicted by Jury in Deaths of 11 Dogs
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An Orange County jury has convicted Irvine dog trainer Kwong "Tony" Chun Sit, 54, on 11 felony counts of animal cruelty for the deaths of dogs entrusted to his care. OC Register reported the verdict came on June 17, 2024, after weeks of testimony in Orange County Superior Court. His assistant and romantic partner, Tingfeng Liu, was convicted of accessory after the fact and multiple misdemeanor charges.
Families paid up to $1,000 a week to enroll their dogs in Happy K9 Academy, Sit's Irvine-based "board and train" business. Instead, prosecutors say 11 dogs died between January 2022 and February 2023, left in unventilated vans and sheds in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said the dogs "were left to bake in the California heat while their owners paid thousands of dollars thinking they were being loved and trained."
How Owners Uncovered a Pattern of Hidden Deaths
Sit ran Happy K9 Academy as a high-end immersion program. He actively discouraged owners from visiting, claiming it would "interrupt the training cycle." When dogs died, prosecutors say he lied to owners — telling them pets had run away or suffered a sudden heart condition. In one August 2022 case involving a French Bulldog, Sit allegedly offered the grieving owner a replacement puppy to avoid suspicion, according to OC Register.
By late 2022, owners had found each other through social media. They compared stories and noticed a chilling pattern: dogs returning injured, or not returning at all. Their complaints triggered a 15-month investigation by the Irvine Police Department and Orange County Animal Care. Officers raided Sit's properties on March 10, 2023, and arrested both Sit and Liu that same day, according to Daily News.
Prosecutors Called It "Deadly by Design"
Veterinarians and ASPCA experts testified that most of the 11 dogs died from hyperthermia — heatstroke. They told the court that Irvine's summer heat made keeping dogs in unventilated vans and sheds "deadly by design," according to Press Telegram. The DA's office charged Sit with 11 separate felony counts rather than one umbrella charge, a legal strategy designed to maximize his potential prison sentence.
Prosecutors painted Sit as a conman who saw dogs as "disposable commodities." They alleged he froze the bodies of dead dogs to hide evidence and kept collecting fees to protect his revenue stream. Sit faces a maximum sentence of roughly 14 to 15 years in state prison. Liu faces a much lighter penalty — likely probation or a short county jail term — because of her accessory status, according to OC Register.
Defense Blamed Equipment Failure, Not Criminal Intent
Sit's defense attorney argued the deaths were tragic accidents caused by equipment failures — broken fans — rather than deliberate cruelty. The defense said Sit was an overwhelmed business owner who never intended to harm the animals. Liu's attorney argued she was simply following Sit's orders and was effectively trapped in a manipulative work relationship, according to SB Sun.
The jury rejected both arguments. Owner after owner testified about dogs named "Penny," "Lucky," and "Gordo" — and described Sit as charismatic and trustworthy, which made the betrayal more devastating. Victims have recovered $0 in restitution so far, though civil lawsuits against Sit remain pending in Orange County court, according to Daily Breeze.
Conviction Sparks Push for New Dog Trainer Oversight Laws
California does not require a license to call yourself a dog trainer. That gap let Sit operate for years without inspections — even though small claims lawsuits and negative reviews flagged dog injuries as early as 2019, according to Press Enterprise. The case has reignited calls for tougher rules. Advocates are now pushing for "Penny's Law," named after one of the dead dogs, which would mandate registration and twice-yearly inspections for private boarding facilities in California.
The conviction also sent a warning through the broader "board and train" industry. The Association of Professional Dog Trainers issued a statement urging pet owners to check trainers' third-party certifications before handing over their animals. Meanwhile, Irvine residents — who live in one of California's most pet-friendly cities — held "Justice for the 11" rallies outside the courthouse throughout the trial, according to Daily News.
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