A shocking image of a guard dog crammed into a tiny cage at an old Brisbane shopping centre is being investigated by the RSPCA.
The depressing picture was taken at the old Toombul Shopping Centre on Monday and has been circulated online.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: RSPCA investigating shocking case of animal cruelty.
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With the dog unable to sit up properly in the undersized cage, witness Kelly Harris said she was “in tears”.
“It was disgusting. I was in tears. If I could have jumped the fence, I would have just to go and let this dog out,” Harris told 7NEWS.
Harris claims she approached security guards about the cruel conditions but was told it was not her business.
“They weren’t interested. They basically said, ‘we were told to lock this dog up’,” Harris said.
The RSPCA has launched an investigation after they received multiple reports about the dog at the site.
Developer Mirvac hired a security company to deter urban explorers who film themselves breaking into the half-demolished shopping centre at night.
In a statement to 7NEWS, Mirvac said the cages are used for transport and for the “shortest practicable time”.
It said, “the health and safety of working animals is of the utmost importance to our security contractor and ourselves”.
7NEWS has attempted to contact the security company.
RSPCA inspector Sommer Heath-Crilley said there were things to consider when transporting animals.
“It’s important to ensure the enclosure is appropriate to the breed, age, and medical state of that animal,” she said.