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A Pomeranian was killed after it was attacked by a pit bull in a Portland Streetcar on Wednesday. A witness who was interviewed at the scene called the incident "horrific."

(Kasia Hall/ The Oregonian)

A Pomeranian dog was killed after it was attacked by a pit bull Wednesday night on the Portland Streetcar, police said.

A witness, Cole Vliet-Sutten, 32, said he was riding the CL Line when a woman and her pit bull walked onto the streetcar at Northwest 13th Avenue and Lovejoy Street. Almost immediately, Vliet-Sutten said, the pit bull lunged at a black Pomeranian already on board.

"The pit bull put its mouth over the other dog's head," he said. "Everybody was screaming, and this happened for five to 10 minutes."

The streetcar passengers were urging the owner to do something, Vliet-Sutten said. Eventually, he said, the pit bull's owner put her hands in between the dog's teeth and pried its jaw open. The Pomeranian escaped, and the owner rushed the small dog to DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital.

"There was blood everywhere," he said. "It was a horror scene."

Vliet-Sutten said the pit bull and its owner left the scene.

Officers interviewed witnesses and investigated and said no apparent criminal behavior was exhibited by anyone involved.

This isn't the first dog fatality on public transportation. In October 2008, a 7-pound Pomeranian died after it was attacked by a 50-pound Rottweiler mix on a bus.

-- Kasia Hall