They also claimed the owner was Roma

French animal rights activists have been filmed confiscating a puppy from a homeless man, who wails in despair as the animal is taken away.

Footage of the incident, which took place in the capital Paris, shows a man and woman wrestling the homeless man to the ground as the terrified puppy tries to hide beneath its owner's suitcases.

The video was uploaded to Facebook earlier this week by eyewitness Nghi Le Duc and has since been viewed more than 1.7 million times and shared by 26,000 people.

Many viewers were outraged by the footage but Cause Animale Nord, the activist group who purportedly removed the animal, later uploaded a photo to their Facebook page appearing to show the seized dog, adding that it was taken because its owner was a gypsy who used it for begging.

Distressing: French animal rights activists have been filmed confiscating a puppy from a homeless man, who wails in despair as the terrified animal is taken away

Shocking: Footage of the incident, which took place in the capital Paris, shows a man and woman wrestling the homeless man to the ground as the terrified puppy tries to hide beneath its owner's suitcases

The man is seen grabbing the terrified puppy, which can be heard squeaking in fear at its owner's distress

The distressing video begins by showing the homeless man lying on his back while the male activist tries to pin him to the floor.

Both he and a woman then spin around and grab the terrified puppy, which can be heard squeaking in fear at its owner's distress.

The homeless man appears unable to plead with the activists and instead wails in anguish.

Having violently grabbed the animal, they then pass it over to a third activist who sprints off into the distance as the man and the women stop the homeless man giving chase.

The female activist then begins shouting at a crowd on onlookers who appear stunned by the melee.

Stopped: Having violently grabbed the animal, they then pass it over to a third activist who sprints off into the distance as the man and the women try the stop the homeless man giving chase

The video ends by showing the homeless man's suitcases and a note apparently asking passers-by for money

Seized: Viewers were outraged by the footage but Cause Animale Nord, the activist group who purportedly removed the animal, later uploaded a photo to their Facebook page appearing to show the seized dog

Defiant: The picture caption, written in French sought to explain the situation. 'We have withdrawn [the dog] from a Roma who used it for begging. The police do nothing, we act. You also you can act,' they said

It is not known exactly why the dog was seized by the activists, although a message later posted on the Cause Animale Nord Facebook page appeared to show the same animal.

The picture caption sought to explain the situation, claiming that the owner used the animal for begging and that they now intended to put it up for adoption.

The police do nothing, we act. You also you can act, it's just a little bit of courage. - Cause Animale Nord

The poster also revealed that the puppy had been renamed Vegan.

'We have withdrawn [the dog] from a Roma who used it for begging. The police do nothing, we act. You also you can act, it's just a little bit of courage,' the activists added.

When another owner questioned the activists actions, claiming that the had terrorised the dog and caused its owner unnecessary grief, the activists responded defiantly.