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Bellflower Woman Sentenced For Nearly Starving Her Dog To Death

NORWALK (CBS) —  An Orange County judge has sentenced a Bellflower woman, who let her dog nearly starve to death.

Kimberly Nizato was a full-time kennel assistant at an Irvine Veterinary Hospital when she gave up her severely emaciated dog to a friend last spring.

Her 3-year-old German Shepherd weighed 37 pounds and veterinarians said he had eaten dirt and rocks to survive.

Nizato originally faced felony animal cruelty charges, but a judge reduced that charge to a misdemeanor. She pleaded no contest and was sentenced Monday to 30 days in jail and was ordered to pay more than $2,000 restitution for the cost of treating the dog, who was renamed "Courage."

Courage was nursed back to health by German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County and now lives with an adopted family.

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