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Tom Brady strangely referenced dog abuse while on-air Sunday ... and animal lovers everywhere are outraged.

The NFL legend's bizarre comments came during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bears' big victory over the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field ... just after George Pickens dropped a Dak Prescott pass that ended up as an interception.

Brady -- who was on the call for the Fox broadcast -- saw the Cowboys wideout slam his helmet in disgust ... and oddly compared it to hitting a pet.

"Those helmets can be -- it's like the dog at home," he said into the mic. "Kick the dog, throw the helmet. Whatever it takes." Getty

Brady's partner in the booth, Kevin Burkhardt , didn't react to the remark ... and the on-field action then went to a commercial break. The two

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