A Brazilian nurse who was caught on camera repeatedly attacking a dog, which later died of its injuries, has gone into hiding after the video was published on YouTube.
The disturbing video of Camila de Moura abusing the Yorkshire Terrier in front of her 18-month-old daughter was taken by a neighbour living in the same apartment block in Formosa, Brazil.
She originally handed it over to the local police, but posted it online after becoming frustrated that the authorities had not arrested de Moura and were not going to pursue the case.
After a national outcry, an investigation was quickly launched, and hundreds of thousands have joined Facebook groups or signed an online petition demanding that the 22-year-old be brought to justice.
When officers arrived at de Moura's home she reportedly tried to explain her actions by saying she was ‘having a bad day, going through some family problems and an attack of nerves.’
The dog was found in a poor state and died of its injuries two days later.
De Moura, who is married to a doctor, has gone into hiding after receiving more than 40,000 death threats, according to her lawyer Gilson Afonso Saad.
He told Brazil's Correio Braziliense newspaper: 'It's humanly impossible for her to remain in her home. Her apartment block was surrounded by a mob throwing stones. There have even been people offering money for someone to kill her.
'The situation has got out of control. The threats aren't restricted to her, but also affect her husband and daughter.'
A police spokesman said the investigation is expected to conclude on Wednesday and could result in de Moura being sentenced to up to a year in prison for animal cruelty.
The brutal attack was witnessed by a child, so she could also be charged under the Children's Act for 'exposing a child to shame or embarrassment, the maximum penalty for which is three years behind bars,' he added.
The case is the latest in a number of incidents of animal cruelty in Brazil which have shocked the country in recent weeks.
Earlier this month a three-month-old puppy was buried alive for more than 12 hours in Novo Horizonte, Sao Paulo state. The animal was rescued and is slowly recovering from its ordeal.
And last week a dog was tied to a car by its neck and dragged through the streets of Cidade Soberana, in Guaralhos, Sao Paulo, after a neighbour became irritated by its constant barking.
Warrning: Graphic Images 
