Savage beating of dog at canalside caught on camera prompting appeal - WATCH
A man savagely beating a dog on a canal towpath has been caught on CCTV.
An appeal has been launched by the RSPCA in response to the cruel attack on the Wednesbury Oak Loop canal in Bilston.
The footage, taken from a house between Loxdale Sidings and Dudley Street, shows the full extent of the attack.
The man, wearing a dark top and jeans, first grabs the dog and then punches it repeatedly as it on the floor.
Seconds later he picks the dog up and threatens to throw it in the water.
He then calmly walks off with the Staffordshire-type dog, which is visibly shaken.
WATCH: Shocking attack on dog captured on footage
RSPCA spokesman Rachel Butler said: "We've been made aware of the footage and we are working with the police in investigating it."
Software manager Steve Childs captured the footage from his security camera. He is calling for people to name the man, passing it on to the RSPCA and police.
He said: "The poor dog was doing nothing wrong at all, he was simply walking down the towpath and then gets beaten for no apparent reason.
"If he acts like that in open, what he does behind closed doors really worries me.
"That is my biggest concern. This dog needs to be rehomed."
He was alerted to the incident while working in an office in his home.
He said: "I heard a high-pitched bark outside, turned on the live CCTV and saw the tail end of what happened.
"When I rewinded it, I could not believe what I was seeing. The dog did nothing to provoke this."
He added: "It got the camera to prevent burglars, so to pick up something like this was a surprise.
"I just hope they catch the man."
Anyone with information or who saw the incident should contact us on 0300 123 8018 or the police on 101.