DENVER -- A man accused of beating a Chihuahua to death with a shovel and then throwing it in a Dumpster said he didn't do it.

Joseph B. Trujillo, 44, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals Wednesday.

The woman who owned the dog still can't believe it happened.

"For three days all I've been doing is crying," a tearful Elaine Ulibarri told 7NEWS on Thursday. "It feels like I've lost one of my kids."

Ulibarri said the 5-year-old Chihuahua was a stray she took in about eight months ago. She was not home when the alleged incident happened.

Trujillo was arrested Sunday when police and Animal Control officers were called to South Bryant Street and Bayaud Avenue on the report of a dead dog. Witnesses told police that Trujillo became upset with the dog and beat it to death.

Trujillo was taken into custody at the scene.

"He went out to eat afterwards like nothing happened," Ulibarri said. "No mercy at all."

From jail, Trujillo told 7NEWS he's been falsely accused of the crime.

"If I actually did this, it would've been cruel, but I didn't do it," Trujillo said.

Trujillo, who lives with his wife in Ulibarri's home, claims his mother-in-law is trying to get him in trouble.

"She just doesn't want me around her daughter," Trujillo said. "I've never, ever in my life killed a dog."

A neighbor said Trujillo is lying.

"I know he's lying because I watched him do it," Eric Bernal told 7NEWS by phone. "I actually saw him carrying the dog to back by the scruff of the neck. The dog was yelping or screaming. It was really disturbing."

Bernal said he originally planned to report the incident anonymously, but is now prepared to testify in court about what he said he observed from his back porch.

Trujillo remained jailed under a $2,500 bond on Thursday.

He is scheduled to appear in Denver County Court on Friday to be formally advised of the charge.

If convicted of the crime, he could spend up to 18 months in prison.