The RSPCA is calling for public assistance to find a man who was captured on CCTV repeatedly punching a dog in Mackay in north Queensland.
In the footage the man appears to coax the dog to come closer to him before holding it down and throwing more than a dozen punches.
RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty said he was horrified by the vision.
"Personally, I find the attack very disturbing, I mean the attack just went on and on," Mr Beatty said.
"What's really disturbing is that it seems totally unprovoked — the dog didn't act aggressively in any of the vision that we've seen and the dog had no idea what was going to happen when he went to the man.
"I have no idea what else to say but he just beats the crap out of the dog."
RSPCA Queensland has released the footage in the hope someone can identify the man, or a second person who was with him at the time.
Police said they were not investigating the matter at this stage and the dog had not been taken to any local vets.
It was also not clear if the dog belonged to the man or was known to him.
"You have to wonder about the inner violence of someone who would do something like this to a defenceless creature," Mr Beatty said.
He said the RSPCA was hoping to be able to launch a prosecution case against the man, if he was identified.
The maximum penalty for animal cruelty under the Animal Care and Protection Act is three years in jail or a fine of up to $220,000.
