Qld dog attack cruel, cowardly: cops

A chihuahua is expected to recover after it was "cruelly" bashed over the head with a blunt object by burglars in north Queensland.

Police say intruders stole a flag outside the unlocked home in Townsville before walking inside.

Senior Sergeant John Mahony says when the small pooch started barking one of the burglars bashed it over the head with a blunt object.

The homeowner was woken by the distressed yelps of their pet, which had lost "a lot of blood" by that time, and rushed the dog to a pet hospital.

Snr Sgt Mahony says the chihuahua will make a full recovery but police are hunting for the attackers.

"It's a cruel, cowardly act on a small, defenceless animal," he said.

"I would think that the vast majority of the community would find an attack on a small animal such as this as a disgusting act and in my opinion the community should not (have to) put up with it."