Kimberly Nizato |
BELLFLOWER, Calif. (KTLA) -- A veterinary hospital employee accused of nearly starving her dog to death pleaded no contest Monday to a felony charge of animal cruelty.
In April 2010, Bellflower resident Kimberly Nizato taken into custody after authorities say she left her German Shepherd in an airport carrier inside her garage -- without food or water -- for five weeks.
Authorities say the emaciated dog weighed just 37 pounds and according to veterinarians, the animal had only hair, dirt and rocks in his stomach, with no evidence of food.
After Nizato's arrest, the 26-year old was fired from her job at Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Irvine.
The dog has since been adopted and is said to be in good health.
Nizato is scheduled to be sentenced July 28. She faces up to three years in state prison, prosecutors say.
Nizato turned herself in after the 3-year-old German Shepherd was found near death at her home in Bellflower.
The dog, named "Courage" by German Shepherd Rescue volunteers, weighed only 37 pounds when he was carried into the emergency clinic earlier this month.
"A woman came up to me and asked me why I was sitting there with a dead dog, because he looked like he was dead," volunteers told KTLA.
A healthy adult male German Shepherd should weigh 75-85 pounds.
Courage was unable to walk or hold his head up because he had no muscle, according to veterinarians.
Courage has since gained about 10 pounds and more than 75 people have called offering to give him a home.
The dog has received treatments including blood transfusions, plasma transfusions, electrolyte and vitamin infusions, IVs and a variety of tests to determine organ functionality.
He is expected to survive, but his recovery will be lengthy.
Donations to assist the rescue group can be made at www.GSROC.org.
In April 2010, Bellflower resident Kimberly Nizato taken into custody after authorities say she left her German Shepherd in an airport carrier inside her garage -- without food or water -- for five weeks.
Authorities say the emaciated dog weighed just 37 pounds and according to veterinarians, the animal had only hair, dirt and rocks in his stomach, with no evidence of food.
After Nizato's arrest, the 26-year old was fired from her job at Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Irvine.
The dog has since been adopted and is said to be in good health.
Nizato is scheduled to be sentenced July 28. She faces up to three years in state prison, prosecutors say.
Nizato turned herself in after the 3-year-old German Shepherd was found near death at her home in Bellflower.
The dog, named "Courage" by German Shepherd Rescue volunteers, weighed only 37 pounds when he was carried into the emergency clinic earlier this month.
"A woman came up to me and asked me why I was sitting there with a dead dog, because he looked like he was dead," volunteers told KTLA.
A healthy adult male German Shepherd should weigh 75-85 pounds.
Courage was unable to walk or hold his head up because he had no muscle, according to veterinarians.
Courage has since gained about 10 pounds and more than 75 people have called offering to give him a home.
The dog has received treatments including blood transfusions, plasma transfusions, electrolyte and vitamin infusions, IVs and a variety of tests to determine organ functionality.
He is expected to survive, but his recovery will be lengthy.
Donations to assist the rescue group can be made at www.GSROC.org.
