Saw someone hit their dog - what should I have done?

[DoubleTweenQueen]

I was in my car at the supermarket this morning, front-to-front with a VW Golf. I stayed in the car for a bit to listen to a radio programme. A man came up to the Golf and put two dogs in the back - no grill present, possibly unusual for them to be transported in that particular car maybe - anyway, the dogs went in the back then he went off somewhere for another few minutes and came back with a bag of shopping.
I was startled as I hadn’t realised he had returned, and just heard an almighty yell at my side of the car. I don’t think he realised I was in the car. He was yelling at one of the dogs who was sitting in his passenger seat. I jumped a mile.
He was shouting “What you doing there!” at the dog, in the car. The poor dog was just pleased to see him. The nasty pig opened the car door, shouting at the dog, dragged it out by it’s collar - poor thing wagging its’ tail - and smacked it a few times quite hard on its’ back. Then he put it in the back of the car with the other dog, brushed off the passenger chair, placed his bag inside, still shouting “Bastard dog....” and got into the drivers seat. I then got out of my car to let him know I had witnessed his disgusting behaviour. He drove off.
I was started and was not ready to think of filming him or even taking a picture or licence plate, but is there anything I could have done with that information? Would the RSPCA be able to do anything?
They were beautiful dogs. He was an older cantankerous shit. A respectable/reasonable-looking cantankerous shit. If I’d said anything to him, he wouldn’t have given a damn.
I will keep an eye out for him, for certain, but what could be done, really?
TIA x

[frostedviolets]

I wouldn’t do anything unfortunately.

The police are overstretched and I doubt they would investigate this.

The RSPCA only care for animal welfare if there happens to be a camera in the vicinity.

Horrible but I don’t think there is anything you can really do

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

I’d have given him a piece of my mind and probably called him a few of those names. If he has any sense at all he’ll be embarrassed. Does make you wonder what the poor dogs get at home behind closed doors though. Horrible old shit.

[userxx]

I'd have shouted at the horrible fucker. I would have liked to punch him hard on the nose but that's not allowed.

[Showerpuff]

We were driving through moss side once and saw a man leathering his dog with the lead. The image has stayed with me ever since. There was nothing we could do, we were in busy traffic and even if we could have stopped I never would have been brave enough to get out of the car and say or do something.

I hope you’re ok, it’s an awful thing to witness.

[DoubleTweenQueen]

I am surprised at how shocked and upset I was/am, but never had a ringside seat to such aggression and abuse. It's very sad that the dogs were lovely and probably loved pets - by his wife perhaps? - and clearly loved and trusted their master :( Seems worse they could be treated like that on the sly. I will put a local RSPCA number in my phone and I will be more proactive if I ever see the sort of thing again. Thanks for your replies x

[koshkatt]

What an absolute bastard. That would have broken my heart to see OP.

[Vegansarefriends]

I would have said something and have done in the past. I have also reported someone with a number plate to the RSPCA in the past.
We all need to stand up for animals who can’t defend themselves.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Last summer a woman's dog growled at mine, but took it no further (both off lead, before anyone starts down that route). Next thing I know she has turned around, grabbed her dog and thwacked it as punishment for growling 🤦‍♀️

I swiftly asked her not to thwack her dog on my dog's behalf. We had a chat about how hitting her dog was counterproductive and that growling was a legitimate form of communication. I think it was genuinely just ignorance rather than malice as she seemed to take it on board and she was quite friendly and chatty when I saw her again.

However, the people described upthread sound just plain nasty tbh.

[Windyatthebeach]

Last October I witnessed a man (with his dw) kicking his lurcher in full view of a seafront of people...
I confronted them and his dw said it was a rescue and they had been told to hit it of it went for another ddog - which it had - small fluffy one - obviously reacted to small furry thing -
I rang the police. Still waiting for a call back..
I emailed every dog rescue within 50 miles with pictures... Nobody recognised any other them. Set up Gumtree ad with pics asking for info..
Actually lost sleep for a good while. Absolute fucking bastards is all I can say tbh.
I have pics still incase I see them again.
Wish I had rang a newspaper looking back. Someone near us did something vile to his lurcher off the pier. Caught via newspaper article..
If you have his reg I would (personally because I am stubborn) request his details from dvla and report him to rspca.

[Asmuchuseas]

I saw a man the other week who hit his dog which was only a puppy with its lead. I just glared at him and he said he was sick of it's yapping.

[DoubleTweenQueen]

These stories are so awful. It alao makes me worry how some people treat their family behind closed doors if they're ok about hitting their dog in the open - especially children. Don't know why some people bother to have a dog :( I will be more prepared if there is a next time.

[Girliefriendlikespuppies]

I saw a bloke have a massive go at a young puppy he was walking when I was in the car waiting at traffic lights.

It really upset me and like a pp said makes you wonder what goes on at home if they think that's acceptable out and about.

[Amatteroftime]

Sadly I see this all the time. And if we can't convince people not to smack their kids, it will take more than a 5 minute chat from a stranger to change their mind on hitting their dogs.

I'm a dog trainer and it takes a little while for the message to sink in with people that hitting is abusive, shouting is abusive, that we do not need to cause fear and that positive reinforcement is the way forward for a multitude of reasons.
Usually (I don't like to generalise, but) I find the older generations who may still believe in dominance theory take longer to convince.

So sad to see and breaks my heart when I do. I did have a little chat with somebody recently, whose dog was barking out of frustration and they were hitting it around the head. They did seem receptive to my advice and were quite shocked that it isn't the right thing to do.

[MrsZola]

A long time ago I saw a couple of teenagers walking a puppy along a busy road. Pup was very young, not scared by the traffic, just very curious, excited and not lead trained. They had it on a long loose lead, it walked into the road and they dragged it back, shouting and smacking it. I stopped the car (causing a traffic jam 😁) and told them to stop what they were doing. They were remorseful and I think they hadn't a clue what to do with the puppy. Gave them a quick couple of tips and drove off.