The owner of a seven-pound Yorkie says she’s on the hook for $10,000 in veterinarian bills after her dog was nearly killed in a Yaletown attack Wednesday night, and the owner fled without leaving his information.

Bahara Rahimi was walking her two-year-old Yorkshire terrier Lily on-leash in Emery Barnes Park when her pup was attacked by a much larger dog.  The owner told Rahimi the dog might be aggressive, but he was trying to socialize it.

Lily suffered fractured ribs and was nearly disemboweled by the off-leash Airedale terrier.

Now the pup is fighting for its life and is in critical condition at Canada West Veterinary Critical Care, and Rahimi is fundraising to cover the mounting bills.

“I’ve gone through so much with her, and it’s been so hard on me,” Rahimi said. “I can’t imagine life without her.”

The city’s animal control office said the dog owner identified himself as a visitor named Linn Emery who may work with a carpenters union, and then left the park.

“The male stated he was staying at the Chateau. Animal Control Officers have followed up on these leads but have not had success in reaching the male,” Steve Simmonds told CTV Vancouver.

Witness Antonia Rozario asked the dog owner for his information but said he wasn’t forthcoming.

“Hindsight is 20-20 and we should have taken a picture of him and we should have taken a picture of the car license,” she said.

“It is sickening that someone would have so little compassion, not only for the dog but the human beings involved.

Rahimi is pleading for the animal’s owner to come forward.

“I really need help, I’m just a student,” she said. “What if it happened to children?”

The city says animal conflicts tend to increase as summer approaches.

“We would like to remind citizens to ensure their dogs are licensed, leashed and controlled,” said Simmonds.

This is the second vicious dog attack in the area in recent days.

On Sunday, a five-month-old cocker spaniel puppy suffered a broken back and died of its injuries after being mauled by an off-leash American Bulldog/mastiff cross.

The attacking dog had been deemed aggressive by the city last month and was supposed to be leashed and muzzled in public.

The dog’s owners could face a fine of up to $10,000.

With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Julie Nolin