Trial date set for Courage the dog's accused abuser

The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them. That's the essence of inhumanity.                                                                                   -- George Bernard Shaw

A former veterinary hospital employee accused of felony animal cruelty for allegedly starving her German Shepherd dog nearly to death will see her day in court.

Kimberly Nizato of Bellflower, Calif., was ordered Tuesday by Superior Court Judge Richard Goul to stand trial. She was arrested April 16 after "Bosco," her 37-pound German Shepherd, was removed from her home by Good Samaritans and placed into medical care through German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County. Southeast Area Animal Control Authority worked for months to gather evidence in this animal cruelty case.

Since that day in April, Bosco became Courage, gained nearly 50 pounds, regained total health and was adopted by one of his rescuers, Lisa Whiseant. He now lives a charmed and spoiled life, playing with toys and getting as much love as possible. He's even the "star" in a new fundraising calendar available now, as well as participating in the OC Register's "My Dog's Face" annual photo contest.

Throughout his recovery, GSROC was there, making sure Courage obtained excellent medical care and legal justice. Maria Dales, GSROC lead volunteer, has been involved with the case since the beginning.

"We're delighted, but not surprised, to learn that the judge concurred that there is sufficient evidence for Kimberly Nizato to be tried for felony animal cruelty," said Dales. "There is really no plausible excuse for how she behaved toward that helpless animal that was totally dependent on her for water, food and medical care."

When Courage arrived at a Garden Grove veterinary hospital the night of April 6, he was near death. His bowels were completely impacted with dirt and rocks, and his organs bordered on failure. Yet within weeks of medical care, food and love, Courage rebounded, gaining weight and strength at an astounding speed. He has amazed medical professionals with his recovery.

"[Nizato] had many, many options available to her, including asking the veterinary clinic where she worked, for assistance," said Dales. "She could have reached out to a humane group. She could have contacted the public animal shelter if she couldn't afford to care for her dog. She didn't choose any of these humane options—she chose to allow her dog to suffer. Her actions speak volumes about her character."

In court this week, Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Bainbridge finished up her presentation by introducing five former co-workers who knew Nizato; their testimony formed a timeline of the dog's three-year lifespan before his rescue. According to reports in the Orange County Register, the dog was once a sick, tick-infested puppy rescued as a stray by Nizato and nursed into glowing health. At that time, Nizato allegedly worked at another veterinary hospital as an unregistered vet technician. (When she was arrested, she worked as a kennel attendant at Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Irvine.)

The last known medical records for Courage dated February 2009. He weighed in at 79 pounds. The next time he officially saw a veterinarian was in April 2010 when he weighed 37 pounds and was near death. According to the OC Register, Nizato's sister brought Courage to a La Habra vet hospital April 5 of this year. Nizato was also present. It appears the dog received some treatment that night, but was not transferred, as per the emergency hospital's recommendation, to an internal specialist the next day. Instead, he was taken back to Nizato's Bellflower home she shared with her parents and young daughter, and then relinquished to rescuers that night.

"The picture that I can't erase from my mind is that, day in and day out, week after week, an entire family sat and ate their regular meals just a few yards away from where their dog was starving," said Dales. "It's completely indefensible."

A trial arraignment will be held at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 28.