A Hauppauge man has been accused of choking and killing his neighbor's pit bull, according to police.

Toquoc Huynh pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge on Thursday.

News 12 is told the incident involved the pit bull named Rex, Huynh's shih-tzu and another neighbor's golden doodle. 

News 12 is told Rex was killed in July at the Devonshire Hills Apartment Complex in Hauppauge.

MORE: Man allegedly killed neighbor's dog in Hauppauge

According to court documents, Huynh said Rex broke free from his leash, and he had to grab his Shih Tzu and run inside. When he came back out, he says Rex was biting a golden doodle.

Rex's owner says the golden doodle, who wasn't on a leash, attacked Rex. He says Huynh came out from his apartment, put Rex in a headlock and stated 'your dog is going to die'."

Rex's owners say they have a civil attorney and plan to sue, but in the meantime they want Huynh to face a felony charge instead of the current misdemeanor.

The Suffolk District Attorney's office would not comment on the case.