A cat has drowned after being trapped in a plastic bag and thrown into the Union Canal.
The dead animal was discovered by a man walking his dog near Vellore Road in Maddiston, near Falkirk, on Tuesday.
He had spotted the bag floating in the water, thought it was suspicious and reported it to the police.
When officers pulled the bag from the water they found the pet and a number of bricks which had been used to weigh it down.
Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.
Doreen Graham, of the Scottish SPCA, said: "This really is horrific and the society is extremely worried because this was so premeditated.
"It would have been fighting for its life and the fact it was trapped in a bag and couldn't get out, that's grim"
"To take a cat, to put it in a polythene bag with bricks and then seal it and throw it in the water, this has been well-planned and I have to say the animal had quite a horrific, long, protracted death."
Ms Graham warned that those responsible could face animal cruelty charges resulting in a £5,000 fine and up to six months in prison.
"Drowning isn't an easy death for any animal," she said.
"It would have been fighting for its life and the fact it was trapped in a bag and couldn't get out, that's grim, that's really grim.
"This poor animal had a terrible death and someone out there is responsible for it, they need to be caught."
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