Angry in the Great White North

Cedrika Provencher of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, is nine-years-old and has been missing for 40 hours.

The chilling aspect of this case is the role of the dog:

[Cedrika Provencher] was last seen by two of her neighbours around 8 p.m. on Tuesday. She told them she was looking for a missing dog. Police say she doesn't have any pets and are asking anybody who might have asked the girl for help looking for a dog to come forward.

"Police are saying that whatever happened to her happened during that half-hour time frame," said reporter Tania Krywiak.

The frantic search for a missing nine-year-old continued Thursday with scores of volunteers coming out to help.

"She didn't do anything to deserve this," said Guy McKenzie, a family friend speaking in French. "Someone, somewhere is really disturbed to do this."

McKenzie is alluding to what no officials seem to be saying. The "lost pet" lure is a classic technique used by child predators:

Most abductions involve deception through well-known lures that still work. The most brutal acts against children began with free candy, the offer of a modeling contract, or a picture of a fluffy little kitten. [Kenneth Wooden, founder and president of Child Lures Prevention,] has determined the following to be the most lethal:

Lost Pet: "It's important that we look our children in the eyes and say: 'There is no lost pet,'" emphasizes Wooden. And if there were, why would a grown-up be asking a child for help? It's simply not normal.

Wooden recommends: "Tell them that if an adult asks you to look for a lost pet, you are in danger; get out of there!"

That Cedrika crossed paths with neighbours and mentioned the lost pet must be gnawing at the authorities, who know all too well what this might be.

Let's hope Cedrika is found safe and sound, despite the ominous "lost dog". In the mean time, take a moment with your kids to remind them of some of the dangers out there, and how to recognize them.