The RSPCA is investigating after footage showing a puppy being struck repeatedly by a man in Staffordshire. The incident was captured on a doorbell camera in Hanley.
The footage is believed to have been taken on Friday, July 7, StokeonTrentLive reports. In the video, which has been posted on social media and seen more than a thousand times, a man is seen walking the puppy, which appears to be a bulldog-type breed.
When the dog stops, the man is heard saying "no come on, come here." The man then pulls the dog towards him and then hits it multiple times before dragging it further along the road.
A few seconds later, the man can be seen walking in the other direction with the puppy in his hands. The dog can be heard barking with the man saying "He can f*** off.”
The RSPCA has confirmed it has received a report about the footage. A spokesperson from the RSPCA said: "We are aware of this and are looking into it. As such, we are unable to comment further at this time.
"We are grateful to people who report suspected animal suffering to us and we would like to reassure people we will always look into and, if necessary, investigate any complaints made to us about animal welfare."
Stoke-on-TrentLive has attempted to contact the man alleged to be the person in the video.