The RSPCA is investigating after a picture was posted on social media showing a young dog in its cage strapped to the top of a four-wheel-drive on the Bruce Highway.
Margie Popovic wrote on Facebook that she had observed a case of "canine car surfing" on the Bruce Highway between Gin Gin and Maryborough in the Wide Bay-Burnett region.
"This was a puppy about 3 to 4 mths! I imagine terrified as it was subject to H'Way noise and over 100kph wind without shelter at all....what would this do to a human?" she wrote.
"All up we observed this for 115Ks for over well over an hour and a half. Second photo shows crate mat blown up and poor puppy infront (sic) of it taking the full force of the wind.
"This can not (sic) be legal ...we will see what the RSPCA will do about it. The older couple in the car should be named and shamed!"
The picture and witness account was posted onto the RSPCA Queensland Facebook page with the licence plate of the vehicle involved clearly visible.
However, when the animal welfare organisation reposted the picture saying their inspectors were looking into the matter, it concealed the licence plate.
This resulted in a backlash from Facebook users, who believed the driver should be "named and shamed" and "they deserve everything they get".
However, the RSPCA said sharing the registration plate could "reduce our ability to prosecute to the full extent".
