PORTLAND, Ore. -- A small dog was attacked and killed by a large mixed-breed dog on a TriMet bus Sunday afternoon, officials said.

Marie Kelemen was sitting at the front of the Line 75 bus with her Pomeranian leashed and standing on the floor near her feet when the attack occurred, TriMet spokeswoman Peggy LaPoint said.

Leroy Morley, a passenger on the bus, got up from his seat near the back of the bus with his 50-pound Rottweiler-Shar Pei mixed breed dog and moved toward the front exit of the bus at North Lombard and Interstate streets, LaPoint said.

As Morley exited the bus, his dog attacked and fatally injured the Pomeranian, LaPoint said.

Latifah Hicks was sitting next to the owner of the Pomeranian at the time of the attack.

"In the blink of the eye, it just got out of control. I was scared," Hicks said. "I felt bad for the dog because it was so small, you know."

Morley was banned from TriMet for 30 days for boarding with a non-service or companion animal, LaPoint said.

The Pomeranian is considered a service dog for Kelemen and allowed to ride the bus, officials said.

Morley couldn't be reached for comment. But his friend, Roger Herrin, has taken care of the dog for more than one year.

"He's not aggressive at all. He's nine years old. He's lazy," Herrin said. "Pomeranians are little yappers anyway. Max probably just wanted to sniff him or be natural."

Service and companion animals are allowed on TriMet, but they must remain under the control of their owners at all times and pets are allowed only in carriers, LaPoint said.

TriMet officials said the Line 75 bus driver asked both dog owners if their dogs were service animals and both replied yes.

Authorities later found out that the larger dog wasn't a service dog, according to TriMet.

Small Dog Killed On TriMet Bus