The Irvine couple, who runs a dog training service, was charged with multiple felony counts Monday, including the deaths of at least 11 dogs, with some animals cremated before being investigated.
Irvine and his girlfriend, 23-year-old Vista girlfriend and 23-year-old Tinfen Liu, were arrested last week, according to a news release from the Irvine Police Department. One of the victim’s owners turned authorities over a day before the couple’s arrest. They said they received a message from the trainer saying their dog died during his sleep and was cremated.
“One family reached out to us [and] I thought it was a bit suspicious that their healthy dog had passed away with this trainer,” Irvine Police spokesman Kyle Allelp said last Thursday.
Upon investigation, the department’s animal services unit found multiple dog victims.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office confirmed in a news release Monday that at least 11 dogs have died on SIT’s property. All bodies, including those cremated, were recovered.
Investigators found two dogs died from fever strokes and one from blunt trauma. The two dogs were cremated before they could be inspected, and the bodies were later handed over to their owners.
Prosecutors said at least six animals had pending necrosis.
Authorities believe the couple dropped their first dog at the crematorium on June 13th. By June 18th, the total number of corpses had risen to 11.
“Our dogs love us unconditionally. And it’s beyond resentment that someone who promoted himself as a dog lover who treats his own dogs as his own dogs is responsible for the deaths of these pets, recruiting his girlfriend to cover up animal abuse is beyond resentment. Atti. Todd Spitzer said in a statement: “No animal is worth killing, it’s thrown away like garbage. Animal abuse is unacceptable.”
SIT, which ran the K9 Academy dog training service, faces 30 counts. Number of 11 felony animal cruelty, 11 felony of animal cruelty by caretakers, counts of seven misdemeanors attempting to destroy evidence, and counts of one misdemeanor that destroys evidence.
Liu, believed to have helped him get the dogs down at the crematorium, faces four counts. Counting one felony accessory for a felony, one misdemeanor of destruction of evidence, and two misdemeanors of attempted destruction of evidence.
The couple is in custody in lieu of $550,000 bail. The bail amount increased after prosecutors said the couple were ready to run away before being arrested.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Sitt will have a maximum sentence of 13 years, or four years if convicted of four years.
K9 Academy offered a variety of training programs, including 1-4 sessions on behavioral training ranging from $999 to $3,999. Irvine police said there could be more casualties given that it is sitting and running under different company names across Southern California.
Anyone with information related to the case or whose dog has died from a trainer CARE will be asked to contact rteen@cityofirvine.org.
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