ANDERSON, Ind. - The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld an Anderson man's 14-year sentence for attacking his then-girlfriend and fatally stabbing her nine dogs.

The appeals court ruled Friday that Dennis White had waived his right to appeal and therefore cannot challenge his sentence.

White had sought to appeal his sentence after pleading guilty to charges of criminal confinement and torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal.

White and his girlfriend, Wendy Shipley, argued in February 2012 after Shipley refused to give White part of her $1,300 tax refund. Court documents say that when White grabbed Shipley's throat, her pit bull, Coco, attempted to help her by biting White's ear.

After Shipley fled the home, White stabbed to death the dog and its eight 2-week-old puppies.