Warning: This article contains details of animal abuse.
Police have launched an investigation after Whanganui residents were caught abusing a cat and forcefully throwing it to the ground.
In disturbing CCTV footage of the incident, two people can be seen standing at the end of a driveway playing with the cat before one picks it up by the tail and throws it across the street.
The time stamp on the video indicates the incident occurred at 6:31pm on Tuesday night.
Police confirmed to Newshub they were notified of the incident on Whanganui East St just after 8pm, and were supplied the footage on Wednesday morning.
A spokesperson said the person who supplied the footage has also been advised to contact the SPCA.
The cat, who is elderly at age 16, suffered a concussion and some cuts and bruises in the attack, the NZ Herald reports.
"Around 7pm we got a call saying it looked like Lilly had been hit by a car. I went over there and she was drooling with her tongue out and eyes dilated, with cuts and blood all over her face," joint owner Felicity Simmons told the news outlet.
Following the release of the SPCA's annual List of Shame in February, chief executive Andrea Midgen revealed to Newshub the organisation had "more work that we can deal with".
She says while the SPCA works "incredibly hard" to protect the nation's most vulnerable animals, the List of Shame makes it clear that violence towards animals continues to prevail here.
"The horrific cases from this year's list reminds us that there is still much to be done to tackle the issue of animal abuse, and we're determined to give these animals the life they so desperately need and deserve."
Animal abuse remains a significant issue in New Zealand. The SPCA - just one of dozens of animal welfare organisations across the country - rescued 15,000 animals and treated 40,000 more last year alone.
