A man accused of throwing his ex-girlfriend's dog off a third-floor apartment balcony entered a plea to felony animal cruelty Wednesday in Ramsey County District Court. The 3-year-old English bulldog named Precious was severely injured and had to be euthanized.

Donald R. Dornseif, 44, will be sentenced Jan. 15 by District Judge Rosanne Nathanson.

Dornseif entered an Alford plea, which means a defendant believes there is enough evidence to convict but does not admit guilt.

According to the criminal complaint, Dornseif went to Sara Goff's apartment in the 1300 block of Mississippi St. the night of Sept. 25 to see their 6-year-old daughter, Mya. Two friends, ages 5 and 10, were with Mya.

The 5-year-old's mother, who was watching the children, had stepped away briefly and was on the balcony below, she told police. From the balcony above, Dornseif went on a rant about dogs.

Dornseif later told police that Precious jumped from his arms and over the railing. A police investigator, however, noted that the railing was almost 4 feet high and the dog landed nearly 10 feet away. The investigator concluded "it would be impossible for such a heavy, short dog to jump a distance of 8 to 10 feet from that railing without being propelled," according to the complaint.

The complaint said the 5-year-old's mother told police that Dornseif said to her during their argument, "Do you want to see the dog hit the sidewalk?"

Later, he denied having said that, police said. But he did admit he had been drinking, the complaint said.

PAT PHEIFER