SAN MATEO — A 37-year-old San Mateo man accused of beating his dog hard enough to break its back pleaded not guilty to felony animal abuse charges this week, prosecutors said.

On May 19, police responded to the 2700 block of South Norfolk Street for reports of a man slamming a husky on the ground. The man also was allegedly choking the dog and pulling its legs hard enough for it to cry out in pain.

Prosecutors said the alleged beating was recorded by one of the two neighbors who called police.

Officers arrived to find Rami Al-Zetawi kneeling over the husky named Toby. He told them he was the owner.

Al-Zetawi was arrested and booked into jail felony animal abuse charges. The Peninsula Humane Society, meanwhile, took Toby into protective custody and rushed him to the North Peninsula Veterinarian Emergency Clinic, where prosecutors said an X-ray showed he had a broken back requiring surgery.

Since his arrest, Al-Zetawi has made repeated attempts to retrieve Toby from the Peninsula Humane Society, prosecutors said. However, as a condition of his release on $50,000 bail, he must stay away from the facility and make no attempt to contact the dog.

Al-Zetawi is scheduled to return to court Aug. 16 for a preliminary hearing.