WARREN, Ohio - Protestors advocating for animal rights have gathered in Warren ahead of a hearing for a Warren man facing animal cruelty charges.

Forty-three-year-old Thomas Leimkuehler waived his hearing scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Warren Municipal Court in connection with a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals filed against him.

Ahead of that hearing, several protestors gathered outside the courthouse holding signs with phrases like "I support putting animal abusers to sleep."

Leimkuehler was charged after a dog was found in distress while chained up in a basement, nearly unresponsive at the bottom of the steps.

The dog was taken to a veterinarian for treatment, but ultimately had to be euthanized due to the severity of its condition. The dog was emaciated, dehydrated, and suffering from a ruptured abdominal mass, according to a post from the Healthy Hearts & Paws Project.

According to online court notes, Leimkuehler is prohibited from having any companion animals.

Leimkuehler's case is now in the hands of a Trumbull County grand jury following the hearing.