This is the shocking moment a pit bull flips a pet poodle around like a rag doll as its screaming owner helplessly looks on.

The incident was reported by the news site Zap Maraba based in the municipality of Maraba in the Brazilian state of Para on 17th August, however, it is unclear exactly where in Brazil the dog attack took place.

According to the report, the poodle owner was walking along the street when the pit bull suddenly attacked the smaller hound.

One onlooker tried to intervene by hitting the pit bull, but to no avail.

In the shocking footage, the pit bull is seen latching onto the poodle’s neck and flipping it around as a man hits it with what appears to be a small plank of wood.

Meanwhile, the owner holds onto her poodle’s lead during the attack while screaming in shock as her pet is mauled in the street.

The woman drops the lead as the savage attack is happening and as a result, the man cannot prevent the pit bull from breaking free and dragging the limp poodle along the tarmac.

The dangerous dog is seen running with the poodle to the far end of the road where it continues to violently shake it by the neck.

A group of bystanders look on helplessly for some time while the pit bull apparently ‘finishes the job’ and the owner continues screaming in shock.

It is unclear where the pit bull, apparently wearing a collar in the footage, came from and if the local authorities are investigating the incident.