THIS dramatic picture shows the moment a bodybuilder hurled his pet dog into the sea — before dragging it out by the scruff of its neck.
Police and the RSPCA are investigating after an onlooker took this shocking photograph by the sea in posh Hove, East Sussex.
The witness, who did not want to be named, has handed a series of photos to officers to investigate.
Hurled
An onlooker said: "This guy, who is quite well built, simply picked up one of his dogs and hurled it into the sea.
"I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing. The dog just went flying with its legs out in the air until it hit the water.
"The guy’s other dog was already in the sea swimming, but this one had no choice - it was going in whether it liked it or not."
The man, whose identity is unknown, is then pictured dragging one of his pet dogs out of the water by the scruff of its neck before driving off in a silver Peugeot.
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Police were called to the seaside at 2.15pm on Saturday.
Sergeant Chris Lane of Sussex Police said: "We received a call from a member of the public who had reported two dogs being mistreated.
"Two police cars, one marked and one unmarked, were sent to the scene.
"Unfortunately, however, the suspects had already left when they arrived."
The RSPCA confirmed one of its investigators is also studying the pictures.
A source said: "The pictures are quite shocking, but it is unknown whether this man considers it a game and thinks his dogs enjoy it.
"We need to speak to him to clarify the situation."