DALLAS — A 24-year-old Irving man admitted in court Monday morning to throwing his pit bull puppy down two flights of stairs.

Under a plea agreement, Michael Charles Soto will receive a three-year prison sentence for the crime.

Soto was arrested in August 2007 after witnesses said they saw him kick Annie, his four-month-old puppy, several times and then throw the dog down two flights of stairs.

He then tossed the dog into a nearby Dumpster, said Lt. Richard Gilmette, an Irving police spokesman.

WFAA-TV

Michael Charles Soto leaves court following his plea.

The puppy was taken to Irving Animal Services where she underwent hip surgery, but she died from complications two months later, said Jonnie England, director of animal advocacy for the Metroplex Animal Coalition.

"It's absolutely unconscionable," England said. "She was a puppy. She was not housebroken, and her owner got mad at having to clean up messses in the apartment, and did this simply in a rage."

Soto was charged with felony animal cruelty, punishable by two to 10 years in prison.

"We're so grateful that this has been prosecuted and investigated and now this person is going to prison for his crimes," England said.

Dallas Morning News staff writer Tiara Ellis contributed to this report.