A couple from Irvine The operation of a dog training service was accused of multiple charges of serious crimes on Monday that involved the death of at least 11 dogs, and some of the animals are burned before they could be examined.
Kwong “Tony” Chun Sit, 53, from Irvine and his girlfriend, Tingfeng Liu de Vista, 23, were arrested last week, both under suspicion of animal cruelty and destruction of evidence, according to an Irvine police department. press release. One of the victim's owners told the authorities one day before the couple's arrest. They said they had received a message from the coach who said that his dog had died while sleeping and had been incinerated.
“The family contacted us [and] I thought he suspected that his healthy dog died with this coach, ”said Irvine Police spokesman Kyle Olmoerp last Thursday.
When investigating, the department's animal services unit found more than one canine victim.
The Orange County District Prosecutor's Office confirmed in a press release on Monday that at least 11 dogs died in possession of SIT. All bodies, including cremates, were recovered.
The researchers discovered that two dogs died from heat stroke, and one died of blunt force. Two dogs were incinerated before they could be examined, and the remains were delivered to the owners.
At least six animals have pending necropsy, prosecutors said.
The authorities believe that the couple left the first dog in a crematorium on June 13. By June 18, the total number of bodies rose to 11.
“Our dogs love us unconditionally, and have someone who was announced as a dog lover who would treat the dogs of their clients as their own not only responsible for the death of these pets, but to relieve their girlfriend to cover up animal abuse is beyond the repulsive,” dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “No animal deserves to be killed and then thrown aside as a piece of garbage. The abuse of any animal will not be tolerated.”
SIT, who operated the K9 Academy dog training service, faces 30 positions: 11 charges of animal cruelty, 11 charges of animal abuse by a caregiver, seven minor crimes to try to destroy evidence and a minor crime to destroy evidence.
Liu, who believes that he helped to sit to dogs in the crematoriums, faces four positions: a serious crime of accessory to a serious crime, a minor crime of destruction of evidence and two positions of minor crime of destruction of attempted evidence.
The couple remains in custody instead of a bail of $ 550,000. The amount of the bond increased after prosecutors said the couple was full and ready to flee before being arrested.
SIT faces a maximum sentence of 13 years and Liu four years if they are convicted of all charges, according to the Orange County District Prosecutor's Office.
K9 Academy offered a variety of training programs, such as four sessions on behavioral training that vary at a price of $ 999 to $ 3,999. The Irvine Police Department said there could be more victims since SIT operated with different company names throughout the southern California.
Any person with information related to the case or whose dog died under the care of the SIT coach must contact [email protected].
