A video of a U.S. Marine throwing a puppy off a cliff has spread throughout the Internet, inciting rage among thousands of views.

The video showed a grinning Marine holding a black-and-white puppy by the scruff of the neck. "Cute puppy, huh?" a Marine is heard saying, followed by a reply from a second Marine; "oh, so cute little puppy." The Marine holding the puppy then pulls his hand back and hurls the dog off a rocky ravine; the puppy can be heard yelping all the way down until it hits the ground.

Responding to the outraged responses gathered on YouTube and other websites, the Marine Corps has issued a formal statement saying officials have launched an investigation into the video.

"This is a shocking and deplorable video that is contrary to the high standards that we set for every Marine," said Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Chris Perrine. "We do not tolerate this type of behavior and will take appropriate action."

The Marine, who had been identified as a lance corporal stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, is currently being kept safe from angered viewers. Perrine said that should the video be proven legitimate, the Marine in question would be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

CNN reported that the Marine would be subject to "anything from reduction in pay to reduction in rank to confinement to discharge from the Marine Corps."

The original posting of the video has been taken down from YouTube on 12:30 p.m. ET, as it violated the website's terms of use.