Elizabeth Lewis, 19 of Hamilton, Ohio now faces animal cruelty charges again in less than a year for allegedly starving her young pit bull dog named Bruiser. On Friday, a social media page titled Justice for Bruiser and petition were created to help bring awareness to animal cruelty and to advocate a just punishment for this egregious case of alleged animal cruelty.
Early last week, a report of an emaciated 10-month-old pit bull falling down the steps of Lewis' Timberline Drive apartment house prompted Butler County Deputy Dog Warden Tonya Hanson to order Bruiser's owner, Lewis to take her dog to animal control to be humanely euthanized.
According to wlwt.com, Hanson stated it was the worst case of starvation in a dog she had seen in 15 years.
What makes this tragedy even more disturbing is the sad history of Bruiser. In August 2012, Lewis was charged with animal cruelty citing Bruiser as being "extremely lethargic and malnourished." At the time Bruiser only weighed 17 pounds.
Hamilton Municipal Court Judge Daniel Gattermeyer found Lewis not guilty of the animal cruelty charges in August. Bruiser had been cared for at Animal Friends Humane Society, he was released back to Lewis on Oct.5, 2012 weighing a healthy 38 pounds.
Representatives of Animal Friends Humane Society hardly recognized Bruiser this last time and told wlwt.com:
"It is a miracle the dog could crawl out of the apartment. It couldn't even stand ... it was dying."
And now according to Cincinnati.com, Lewis denies she starved Bruiser stating the dog had hereditary mange and didn't want to eat. She stated she was not able to afford to have Bruiser euthanized, but was trying to make him as comfortable as she could.
Lewis has been charged with cruelty to a companion animal and for failure to get a license. She is scheduled to appear in Hamilton Municipal Court on Mar. 8.
Meanwhile Justice for Bruiser asks everyone not to harass Lewis no matter how outraged they may be:
"PLEASE DO NOT FIND ELIZABETH AND MESSAGE HER - WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. SHE HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN GUILTY ! THREATENING HER AND TALKING BADLY TO HER WILL NOT CHANGE WHAT HAPPENS IN COURT OR THE JUSTICE FOR BRUISER. WE ALL NEED TO SIT BACK AND WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS! WE ALL ARE SAD ABOUT THIS NEWS BUT WE ALL NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND HELP BRUISER. YOU'RE WASTING ENERGY TO PUT SOMEONE DOWN WHEN THEY HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN TO COURT. I AM IN NO WAY DEFENDING HER BUT I DO NOT WANT ENERGY WASTED IN WAYS IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE ! THANK YOU ! -Justice for Bruiser"
If found guilty, Lewis faces six-months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Another dog Lewis owned named Buster is now in the custody of the humane society.
Rest in peace Bruiser.
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