A teenager appears to throw a cat off a quarry ledge in footage circulating social media.
Police are investigating reports the youth hurled the animal hundreds of feet down a ravine into water at a former quarry in Carnforth, Lancashire.
Footage, seen by The Mirror, shows the boy throw a black and white feline off the peak, in front of at least one pal. The animal splashes into the water below.
"We are aware of a video which has been posted on social media which appears to show an act of cruelty to a cat in the Carnforth area," a Lancashire Constabulary spokesperson tonight told Mirror.
"This is a matter which we are investigating - we are establishing the exact circumstances and where it happened. Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting log 1803 of July 10, 2023."
Mirror has deemed the footage too distressing to publish but has shared images of the clip, as seen on Twitter, while authorities investigate.
The clip was shared on Snapchat and Twitter and, on the latter, one woman wrote: "What have I just seen on my Snapchat?" It has been retweeted hundreds of times today. Other Twitter users reacted in disgust, calling for the police and RSPCA to condemn the youth.
Writing on the social media site, one person said: "What a vile little boy." Another user posted: "Disgusting, absolutely horrible." A third shared: "It is disgusting, and he deserves to be punished."
Others slammed the behaviour of whoever filmed the cruel act. One Twitter user wrote: "Everyone in this clip needs jail. From the scum doing it, to the scum filming it." Another Twitter user stated: "Absolute rat, and the muppets recording that."
In 2021, Parliament passed the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act, which increased the maximum sentence for specific offences under the 2006 Act from six months to five years' custody.
An RSPCA spokesperson said: "We are aware of this very upsetting video and would encourage anyone with first hand information about it to contact us on 0300 1234 999 or Lancashire Police.
"We are so 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.
"We would strongly encourage people not to share this video further."
