A Spokane Reddit post that appeared Thursday evening sent out a plea to area residents who had witnessed a fatal attack – specifically, that of a Chihuahua at the Patricia Simonet Laughing Dog Park on Sunday.

The Chihuahua, the post said, was attacked by a larger dog the poster believed to be a pit bull mix, and died from its injuries.

The post’s author was not immediately available for comment, but said on the post that the alleged attacker and his owner disappeared before they were able to exchange contact information. Now they’re seeking tips to find the pair.

An incident like the one reported would normally result in a dangerous dog investigation, said Ashley Proszek, field operations manager for Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service. That is, if the owner could be identified.

Spokane County law requires dangerous dogs to be impounded until an owner has properly registered the animal and met specific requirements. Those include the use of a muzzle in public, building new or additional fencing, constructing an enclosure with a cover over it and buying a surety bond or liability insurance.

Attacks like the one described in the Reddit post are common at dog parks, said Lisa Lucas, a certified dog trainer in Spokane. Owners frequently leave dogs unattended, get distracted or bring dogs that shouldn’t be there in the first place.

“I have dealt with so many dogs that have been traumatized at a dog park, and now they’re ruined for life,” she said.

That problem is worse when the park hosts a mix of small and large dogs, she said. Small dogs, especially when they get scared, will act in a way that often triggers the larger dog’s predatory drive.

Some dog parks have separate sections for large and small dogs to help avoid that problem. The Patricia Simonet Laughing Dog Park does not.

“I think those are kind of a disaster waiting to happen,” said Carolyn Martell, another certified dog trainer in Spokane. “A good dog park is going to be separated. That dog might be totally fine with dogs its own size.”

Martell also recommended that if owners want to go to a dog park, they should consider if their dog is well-suited beforehand. Outgoing, confident dogs that enjoy playing with others are a good fit. Antisocial, timid and fearful dogs are not, and are more likely to be attacked, she said.

Owners of large dogs also need to be responsible and not just assume their dog is safe with a wide variety of breeds, temperaments and play styles.

“It’s a myth that dogs will just all work it out,” Lucas said. “You have to have a perfect recall. That’s the only situation a large dog should be at a dog park.”

Even play can escalate to a fight if owners don’t keep a sharp eye on their dogs.

“When the play is getting really intense and loud, call them back,” Martell said.

If a fight does break out, the safest way to break it up is to pull back on the hind legs – preferably with one person for each dog.

“People will try to reach in and grab the collar,” she said. “That will get you bit.”

Many owners don’t recognize signs of aggression, Martell said, and aggressive dogs can be quiet.

Dogs will often pick up on signs from other dogs much faster than people, so if a dog shows fear, it’s safest to leave.

“When people think of aggression, they think of a dog that’s snarling and barking and lunging,” she said. “The dog’s not growling, so they think everything is fine.”