Woman arrested in Courage's abuse case worked in a vet hospital 4/18/10

Orange County Dogs Examiner Kyra Kirkwood

Animal cruelty suspect Kimberly Nizato, who has been arrested in the felony animal abuse case of Courage the starved German shepherd, worked as a kennel technician for Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Irvine, Calif.

As of right now, she's on extended leave and has been suspended, said Gilbert Velasquez, hospital administrator.

"It's really, really caught us by surprise," said Velasquez just minutes after he broke the news to his staff at the large vet hospital with 85 employees and dozens of specialties. "We are just as shocked as everyone else."

Velasquez said he and Nizato's co-workers didn't even know she had a dog.

Velasquez reported that Nizato, 26, has worked at Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital for six months. Her duties were that of a kennel attendant and "floater." Basically, she would "float" between the different hospitals under the practice to see if any kennels needed cleaning or anyone needed help.

"She was always supervised," said Velasquez.

Her work was also beyond reproach, he said. Nizato never arrived late, never called in sick and performed her duties above and beyond.

But many at the practice are puzzled as to why Nizato didn't bring Bosco, now known as Courage, to the hospital, even if she had to say she found him in that condition as stray on the street. She never once brought the dog in for care, said Velasquez.

"She just said it was a big misunderstanding," he said.

For now, Nizato is suspended but is still getting paid temporarily. Velasquez worried about her being able to care for her young child, and he noted he's not going to rush to judgment.

"At least until we know the truth," he said. "[But all of this] took us by surprise."