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The SPCA is appealing for urgent information about a dog which has been found hanging from a tree in the Bay of Plenty.

The organisation received an animal cruelty complaint on Sunday, August 21, regarding a white, young adult, bull bred female dog, hanging from a tree at the Onepu Mountain Bike Park, near Whakatane.

SPCA Inspectorate team lead Alex Jones says the dog was located about 40 metres to the right of the first entrance to the park, next to Lake Tamurenui.

The dog was hanging from a thick blue green coloured rope.

After speaking to the forensic pathologist, SPCA was told the dog was alive when she was hung and would have died slowly, as dogs have a secondary blood supply to the brain.

The dog also has extensive bruising to her internal lower abdomen indicating being punched or kicked.

The dog has no identification tags and is not registered. SPCA has made extensive efforts to try and find further information on the dog, and is now appealing to the public for witnesses and information.

'We are extremely saddened and horrified about the way this dog spent her last moments alive,” says Alex.

'She would have been incredibly frightened and in pain. We are urging anyone with information on this dog to come forward. The park is well used and has registered about 24,000 users a year, including dog walkers, runners and mountain bikers.”

SPCA urges anyone with information to contact Rotorua SPCA on (07) 349 2955, quoting job number SB366725.