starved dog ate rocks and dirt to survive (he's healthy now). Owner charged with misdemeanor

[Liberal_in_LA]

Nizato was a full-time kennel assistant at an Irvine veterinary hospital when she, with help from her sister, surrendered her severely emaciated dog to an acquaintance last spring. Her 3-year-old German shepherd, known as Courage, weighed 37 pounds, and veterinarians said he had eaten dirt and rocks to survive.

Nizato was arrested April 16, 2010. She pleaded no contest to felony animal cruelty June 28.

German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County agreed to pay for the dog's care and renamed him Courage. After weeks of round-the-clock care and constant feedings, the dog made a full recovery and now lives with Lisa Whiseant, the woman who took the dog to medical care last spring.

------------------------

"Courage has moved on. He is a healthy, joyous, 92-pound dog that spends his days playing with toys, his shepherd gal pal, and his wading pool. He harbors no ill effects and is now in perfect health," Whiseant wrote. "His temperament is loving and forgiving."

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/dog-312079-stein-nizato.html?pic=2

[SammyWinstonJack]

1. ...

:mad: :grr:

[DocMac]

8. People can't grasp forgiveness.

Animals can!

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. What's that suppose to mean?

:shrug:


And I bet that dog would shy away from his former 'owner' if given the opportunity,

[DocMac]

17. It means...the dog was able to forgive what happened to it.

I doubt that a human can.

[amborin]

2. speaking of dogs: Thai authorities rescue >1000 destined for restaurants:

Traffickers, who round up stray dogs and barter for pets in rural Thailand, can receive up to $33 per dog in Vietnam


truck containing 600 dogs passing through the province's Na Thom district. Four other trucks containing 1,200 dogs were seized while they travelled through Si Songkhram district


Thai Authorities have Rescued more than a Thousand Dogs

Saturday, August 13th, 2011

Thai authorities have rescued more than a thousand dogs, which were found stuffed into tiny cages and being smuggled out of the country to be cooked and eaten in Vietnam, according to officials.

Police intercepted four trucks stacked high with crates packed with the animals in an operation on Thursday evening in Nakhon Phanom province in northeastern Thailand near the border with Laos.

A Nakhon Phanom livestock development official said 1,011 dogs were being held in a government shelter after two separate raids in Nathom and Si Songkhram districts.

She said an additional 119 had died either through suffocation in the cramped cages or when they were thrown from the back of the trucks as the alleged traffickers sped away from arresting officers.

Two Thai men and a Vietnamese man have been charged with trafficking and the illegal transportation of animals, police case officer Captain Prawat Pholsuwan

“The maximum punishment is a one year jail term and a fine of up to 20,000 baht ($670),” he said.

The dogs were transported from nearby Sakon Nakhon province and were destined to be taken across the Mekong river in Laos and into Vietnam, Prawat added.

Traffickers, who round up stray dogs and barter for pets in rural Thai villages, can receive up to $33 per dog in Vietnam....

snip


http://www.chiangraitimes.com/news/1719.html

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. horrible circumstances for any animal

[stuntcat]

5. incredible

I wish more people would look at this.

As Humans we're free to eat whatever we want though.. no one better tell US what it's moral to eat and not eat, etc :barf:

[Lunabelle]

3. A kennel assistant at a veterinary hospital?

Wow. Just, wow.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. A very well fed kennel assistant, at that.

I cannot even begin to fathom what goes thru people's heads who can starve helpless pets ( and worse, children)

[undeterred]

13. She should lose her job for not having a clue.

[Lunabelle]

14. If she could treat her own pet like that, imagine how she would treat a patient pet.

I'll never be able to understand the nature of this type of cruelty. It just doesn't compute in my brain. As I type this I have a lhasa-poo at my feet, and three other little dogs scattered around the room. They are all rescues and fill my life so much. Each one is so special and precious. I just couldn't imagine being cruel to such a trusting soul as a dog.

[muffin1]

6. I fucking hate some people.

How do they do it? Why? Goddamn it.

:cry:

[stuntcat]

7. what if she hadn't brought it for help..

hadn't surrendered it? And I wonder if she's done this to another animal before. I'm sure she'll go on to own more pets some time in the future.

Horrible human.

At least this one got a chance.

[begin_within]

9. My friend rescued a dog

He lives in Huepíl, Bíobío, Chile. He was almost at the point of death due to an abusive owner. My friend's family rescued him and cared for him. Now a year later he is thriving, as you can see from the picture. They named him Brutuburrulumbún.

[a la izquierda]

10. Ack!

Fucking disgusting bitch. If you cannot afford to feed your dog, or your kids for that matter, seek help for god's sake.

**And before anyone comes here and suggests that people have more compassion for animals than people, some of us can display deep compassion for all living things (because I've seen this happen on DU).**

[xchrom]

11. Misdemeanor!?! Oh for fucks sake. Nt

[Omaha Steve]

15. Let her get down to 90 pounds in jail

Our newest dog Dug was abandoned in an apartment when his best friends moved out and left him behind without food or water.

Not an eye for an eye. A diet for a diet.

[_ed_]

18. This should be a felony

Mistreating animals is one of the primary indicators of a propensity to go on to harm humans in the future.