A pretrial hearing for a Hamilton woman charged with cruelty to animals has been continued.

Elizabeth Lewis, 19, of Timberhill Drive, was charged Feb. 26 by Assistant Butler County Dog Warden Tonya Henson with cruelty to a companion animal and failure to license a dog. If convicted, she faces 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Lewis walked quickly up to the podium in Judge Daniel Gattermeyer’s court this morning and left almost as fast after her attorney asked for a two-week continuance.

“She may or may not be interested in a trial,” Lewis’ attorney, Ramona Daniels, said after the judge asked if she wanted to schedule a trial.

Hamilton police were called to an apartment building on Timberhill Drive about 9:30 p.m. Feb. 25 for an emaciated dog that appeared to have fallen down the steps. Police immediately called the dog warden.

Henson ordered Lewis to take the pit bull mix, Bruiser, to a vet clinic to be euthanized to end its suffering, according to Meg Stephenson, executive director of the Butler County Animal Friends Humane Society.

A couple dozen protesters toting “Justice for Bruiser” signs were outside the court again this morning. About 20 picketers also protested during Lewis’ first court appearance on March 6.

One of this morning’s protesters, Lisa Holbrook, said she will be at every one of Lewis’ court appearances to make sure the judge imposes the maximum sentence. She said the protesters are also trying to bring attention to the lenient animal laws in Ohio.

“I don’t know anybody who doesn’t think animal cruelty should be a felony,” she said. “Why the legislators in this state will not listen to their constituents about this issue is beyond me. Does this have to happen 100 more times for them to listen? It’s just unconscionable.”

This is the second animal cruelty charge for Lewis, who was found not guilty in October in Hamilton Municipal Court of animal cruelty involving the same dog. Bruiser was in the care of Butler County Animal Friends Humane Society for two months during that pending first case. When the dog was returned to Lewis, he weighted 38 pounds, according to Stephenson.

According to the statement of facts read March 6 in court, Henson ordered Lewis to euthanize Bruiser to end the dog’s suffering. When Henson asked why she let the dog get in such bad condition, Lewis said, “I don’t know, it was selfish of me. I realize that now.”

Henson visited the veterinarian the day after Bruiser was euthanized. She was told that Bruiser’s body temperature, before he was put to sleep, was so low it didn’t register on a thermometer, and the condition of the dog was a direct result of starvation.

Henson has also taken custody of a second dog that was in Lewis’ care.

Lewis previously told the JournalNews that Bruiser was her baby, and she did what she was financially able to do to help him. Lewis said Bruiser had hereditary mange and worms that made him sick.

“I didn’t have the money to take him to the vet,” Lewis said, adding the dog’s health went up and down. “He would gain weight and be OK for a few weeks then start losing again. I thought he would snap out of it. I had hope for him.”