SoCal Dog trainer learns fate for trapping animals in small cages, leaving them to die
An Orange County dog trainer, Kwong “Tony” Chun Sit, has been sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison for leaving 11 dogs to bake to death in cramped cages stacked inside a sweltering van. Sit, 54, of Irvine, was convicted of animal cruelty and destroying evidence in connection with the tragic incident. His live-in girlfriend, Tingfeng Liu, 24, was also sentenced to three years in prison for assisting in covering up the crime.
The horrifying scheme came to light when a devastated pet owner received a text message informing them of their dog’s death. Upon investigation, authorities found a van filled with dog crates that smelled of bleach at Sit’s home. Necropsies revealed that eight of the dogs died from heat stroke, while another died from blunt-force trauma. Two additional dogs had already been cremated, making it difficult for investigators to determine the exact cause of death.
During the sentencing hearing, pet owners expressed their grief and outrage over the loss of their beloved animals. One woman described how she is forced to relive her dog’s final moments every day, while another called the deaths of so many animals an “abomination.”
Sit, who operated Happy K9 Academy and reportedly earned a substantial income, apologized in court but maintained that the dogs did not die in the van. He was convicted on 19 felony counts and has been held on $550,000 bail since his arrest.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office described the case as a heartbreaking example of animal cruelty, with Sit and Liu attempting to cover up the deaths by impersonating the dogs’ owners and having their bodies cremated at different facilities. The couple’s actions were condemned as a despicable attempt to avoid suspicion.
The sentencing of Sit and Liu serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding animal welfare laws and holding individuals accountable for their actions. The tragic loss of these dogs has sparked outrage and calls for justice, as the community mourns the senseless deaths of these innocent animals.
