Hunt for teenage yobs after thug kicks a dog hard in the ribs

A hunt is underway for two teenage thugs after one was filmed kicking a dog in the ribs ‘with a full-blown volley’ in an unprovoked attack.

The covertly filmed footage, which was released by the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), shows two boys tease the canine with a ball in Inchyra Park, Falkirk, Scotland, before one of them kicks the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

The Scottish SPCA later posted an appeal on social media in a bid to track down the culprits, after a member of the public alerted them to the video.

As the canine chases after the ball, the young men chase after it at first appear to be playing with the animal

During the clip, the two men, thought to be in their late teens or early 20s, appear to be playing with the tan-coloured canine and throw a ball into the distance in a bid to get the animal to chase after it.   

The dog then lays its head next to the feet of one of the men before the second man strides towards it and launches his foot into the dog’s ribs.

As the man tries to kick the canine a second time, the dog tries to escape his reach by running in the opposite direction and circling the first man who threw the ball.

Scottish SPCA inspector Nicola Liddell said: ‘We’ve been looking into this since it was first reported in July, but it is difficult to identify the men from the quality of the video.

‘We are hoping the general public can help us identify either of the men and the dog so that we can progress our investigation.

As the dog lays its head next to the feet of one of the boys, the second thug approaches the animal and kicks it in the ribs 

The dog is flung through the air and tries to escape the yob as he tries to give it another kick

Scottish SPCA inspector Nicola Liddell said they were first alerted to the incident in July and were now appealing for help 

‘It is plain to see from the man’s movement towards the dog that he knew exactly what he was doing in the lead-up to kicking it.

‘He took a full-blown volley at the poor thing.

‘No animal deserves to be treated in such a way and we would like to speak with either of the men involved.’

The footage was filmed on July 25, by a passerby who was worried when they saw the dog being struck across the nose for no reason. 

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier tries to escape the boy as he chases after it and attempts to kick it again

The SPCA also posted a message to their Facebook page on August 12 in a bid to catch the boys

A Facebook message posted on the Scottish SPCA website on August 12 read: ‘We have launched an investigation after being sent a video which shows a man deliberately kicking a dog at Inchyra Park in Grangemouth.

‘We are hoping the the public can help us identify either of the men and the dog so we can progress our investigation.

‘If you have any information which could aid us, please call our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.’