DENVER -- A man accused of beating a Chihuahua to death with a shovel and then throwing it in a Dumpster was found guilty by a Denver jury Tuesday.

Joseph B. Trujillo, 44, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. He had denied the charges.

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. "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 on Nov. 4, 2007, 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 was falsely accused of the crime.

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

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."

Trujillo, who is also facing habitual criminal charges, is scheduled to be sentenced June 20, 2008.