REDWOOD CITY (Map, News) - A man arrested on suspicion of kicking his girlfriend’s Chihuahua to death pleaded not guilty Friday to two felony animal cruelty charges that could land him in prison for up to six years.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said prosecutors decided to file charges against Ariel Aspedilla, 26, based on the viciousness of the attack on 4-year-old Chiquita.

“There were at least four or five kicks,” he said. “This was an extremely angry attack. That dog suffered before it expired.”

Prosecutors say the 6-foot-1-inch Aspedilla allegedly broke five of the dog’s ribs and punctured her lungs and liver. The girlfriend was at work at the time, Wagstaffe said.

Chiquita died after Aspedilla brought her to a Redwood City veterinary hospital. Aspedilla was being held on $50,000 bail.

tbarak@examiner.com