Watch: Police investigating after group of people throw dog off bridge in Gisborne

Sickening footage has emerged showing a group of people throwing a dog off a high bridge in Gisborne. Photo / Reddit / Formal-Speed-2400

Warning - distressing content

Sickening footage has emerged showing a group of people throwing a dog off a high bridge in Gisborne.

The video, posted online, shows a group of people standing around as one person pushes the dog towards the edge of the bridge.

One of the group then pushes it off and it tumbles uncontrollably into the water.

Sickening footage has emerged showing a group of people throwing a dog off a high bridge in Gisborne. Photo / Reddit

A police spokesperson told the Herald they had had a report about the video and were assessing it.

SPCA inspectorate team leader Pip Lamb said the video was "concerning".

"This sort of behaviour is extremely irresponsible and could result in injury to the dog, and may constitute an offence under the Animal Welfare Act."

Lamb said anyone who saw the dog being pushed off the bridge or has information about the people who did it should contact SPCA's Gisborne Centre on (06) 867 9463 and follow the extension instructions to report a welfare concern.

Lamb was unable to comment further while the SPCA was investigating.

The person who uploaded the video claims the dog is owned by one of the people on the bridge.

"Yes, definitely his dog! He came with the dog and he left with the dog," the person wrote.

Viewers took to social media sharing their disgust at what the people on the bridge did.

"If this is how the dog is treated in public, how more cruelly is it treated at home?" one person wrote.

Another added: "This makes me upset to see. Poor dog deserves a better owner than some a**hole who'll push it off a bridge for laughs."

A third said: "What a piece of s**t."