Around the state

LOS ANGELES — A man has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges after authorities said he told workers at a local shelter that he was getting rid of his Doberman puppy because his hands hurt from hitting it.

Isaak Gowhari, 34, of Los Angeles was sentenced Thursday to 45 days in county jail after entering his plea to the misdemeanor counts. The judge also barred Gowhari from owning an animal for three years.

Gowhari could not immediately be reached for comment. His telephone number was unlisted.

Authorities said Gowhari came under investigation after he gave Gracie, a 7-month-old Doberman, to an animal shelter. The puppy had newly broken ribs and injuries to its legs.

"Gowhari told the animal shelter workers that he was surrendering the dog because his hands hurt from hitting the animal,” said animal control Officer Ernesto Poblano.

Photos seized by investigators showed Gracie’s snout taped shut and her legs bandaged.

"At times, Gowhari did get Gracie medical care for the injuries he inflicted, but he apparently did not follow up on treatments and the injuries became aggravated and did not heal,” Poblano said.

Gracie recovered from her injuries and has since been adopted.

Young E. coli victim improves, could leave intensive care

SANTA ANA — A girl hospitalized with an E. coli infection after eating at a Souplantation restaurant was expected to be transferred out of intensive care by the weekend, a hospital spokeswoman said Friday.

The 12-year-old girl was one of 10 people sickened by the bacteria after eating at the restaurant in the city of Lake Forest on March 23 or 24, health officials said. The source of the contamination has not been identified, the Orange County Health Agency said in a statement.

The girl could be transferred to a general care ward of Children’s Hospital of Orange County as early as Friday evening, said Denise Almazan, hospital spokeswoman.

The serve-yourself salad-buffet restaurant has remained open. Health inspectors concluded its food and conditions were safe.

The last three cases were confirmed Thursday — a day after health officials announced that tests showed the first seven cases all had the same strain of E. coli, indicating a common source of infection.

E. coli can be found in the intestines of people and animals and is usually harmless but can sicken people through various routes and to varying degrees, according to the Health Care Agency.

People can become infected if they eat contaminated food that is not cooked sufficiently to kill the bacteria. It can also be passed from person to person if someone does not wash their hands properly after using the restroom or changing diapers. Symptoms usually start three or four days after exposure.

The health agency said anyone else who ate at that Souplantation and has developed symptoms such as diarrhea or bloody diarrhea should contact their physicians or county epidemiologists.