A dog was fatally stabbed Saturday in Central Park after a verbal dispute broke out between its owner and an unknown suspect, according to police. 

The dog, a female pitbull-German shepherd mix named Eli, was stabbed around 8:30 p.m. near East 106th Street and East Drive. Its owner, a 43-year-old woman, told police the incident began when she got into an argument with another dog walker, a 51-year-old man. 

According to police, the suspect let his two dogs off their leash during the argument, and allowed them to attack Eli. The dogs became entangled, and the dispute continued. 

As the dogs fought, the man pulled out a switchblade knife and stabbed Eli, before fleeing on foot, authorities said. 

The woman told police that her husband had to rush their dog to an emergency animal clinic, where it had to be euthanized. 

No arrests had been made by Monday morning, and the investigation remains ongoing.