DOG TRAINER CONVICTED OF KILLING 11 DOGS IN HOT VAN

Kwong 'Tony' Chun Sit, 54, was found guilty on 17 June of 11 counts of animal cruelty, along with charges relating to destruction of evidence and obstructing an investigation. Sit operated Happy K9 Academy in Orange County, California. He kept dogs in small crates inside a hot van where they died of heat stroke. One dog, Rosie, a sheep dog poodle puppy, also suffered blunt force trauma. His girlfriend, Tingfeng Liu, 24, was convicted of accessory to a crime, destruction of evidence, and two counts of attempted destruction of evidence.

After the dogs died, Sit impersonated their owners to arrange cremation of the bodies at multiple crematoriums in the area in an attempt to conceal the deaths. The couple dropped the bodies at different facilities in what District Attorney Todd Spitzer said appeared to be an effort to avoid suspicion. Dog owners received text messages stating their pets had died and been cremated. Irvine Police Department began investigating Sit after receiving reports from owners about the deaths. The investigation later uncovered the circumstances surrounding the animals' deaths.

Spitzer issued a statement describing the actions as "unbelievably cruel". He stated that one dog, the puppy Rosie, had been beaten to death, and that Sit had then feigned distress over her death whilst knowing he caused her death. No sentencing date has been announced by the court at this stage.