Puppy Scheduled To Be Auctioned Off For Good Cause Goes Missing In Riverside

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — A 9-week-old puppy in Riverside was expected to be auctioned in order to raise funds for a rape crisis center when it disappeared.

Bill Rainey who has fostered hundreds of dogs was recently asked to take in Lacey, a Maltese mix puppy that disappeared from his backyard in Riverside Tuesday.

Police are looking into the possibility Lacey was stolen or escaped through a hole in the fence.

"She's been here for two weeks and never went through it so I'm reluctant to think that she did," he said.

Lacey was scheduled to be auctioned off April 30th to raise money for the Riverside-area Rape Crisis Center.

"Quite devastating because this actually a cuter puppy than we had last year and last year's puppy did really well so we were expecting big things this year," he said.

The small white dog originally came from the shelter as a stray. Rainey said she was the "most friendly dog" and just loved to play.

He is hoping someone sees his handwritten "lost dog" signs around the area and returns Lacey to the county shelter. No questions will be asked.