An Ironton man accused of throwing a puppy from his second-story apartment answered the charge against him Thursday in Ironton Municipal Court.

Jerry D. Riedel Jr., 30, of 1418 1/2 S. Seventh St., pleaded not guilty to a single count of animal cruelty, a second-degree misdemeanor.

Judge O. Clark Collins set bond at $5,000 and appointed Paul Knipp as the man’s attorney. A pretrial was set for Aug. 21.

According to Ironton Police Detective Joe Ross, police were dispatched to Riedel’s home around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday evening.

Ross said the man claimed he did not throw the dog over the balcony, but was trying to stop it from fighting with his cat.

“I opened the door and the cat ran inside,” Riedel said in the statement. “I caught the dog and threw it out the balcony door and closed it.”

A witness, however, reported seeing a puppy go over the balcony, while another reported hearing it land on the ground.

“They heard it screaming and crying,” Ross said. “It is a shame.” The puppy was alive after it was found on the ground but died shortly after, according to Ross.

Cruelty to animals is a second-degree misdemeanor and carries with it a fine up to $750 and/or 90 days in jail.