Police in Trois-Rivières are appealing to the public for information Monday in the search for nine-year-old Cédrika Provencher, who went missing six days ago.

They are focusing their search on reports a man had asked three other young girls to help him find his lost dog, said Sgt. Isabel Gendron, with the Quebec provincial police.

Sgt. Isabel Gendron of the Quebec provincal police speaks to CBC-TV.
(CBC)

"So far, we … know three other girls around the same age and same area were approached recently by a man asking for help to find his black and white small dog," said Gendron.

"We are asking parents … if they have little girls around that age … to keep asking their child if they were approached by that man."

Gendron said police do not have a good description of the man, saying they only know he is white and between the ages of 30 and 60.

While police have spoken to thousands of people and received roughly 500 tips, Gendron urged the public to contact them if they have any information.

"If they have something, an answer, part of an answer, call us please," she said. "Investigators are working … day and night."

On Sunday, the girl's father made a heartfelt plea for the safe return of his daughter.

Martin Provencher told reporters he is hoping someone who knows where his daughter Cédrika is or has possibly abducted her will just let her go.

"Leave her on a street corner," he said.

Authorities have called off the ground search for the little girl, who disappeared July 31. Witnesses said she was last seen riding her bike between 6 and 8 p.m. last Tuesday, asking people in her neighbourhood if they had seen a lost dog.

Police are also checking the sexual offenders registry for the region.

Hundreds of police and volunteers combed the woods and riverbanks around Trois-Rivières last week, as a search helicopter flew over the area.

A billboard featuring Cédrika's photo has been raised in the close-knit community, while hundreds of posters are plastered in coffee shops and grocery stores.

Provincial police suspect she may have been abducted by someone who had asked for help in finding the animal. They have confirmed Cédrika did not have a dog of her own.

Around midday on Wednesday, searchers found the girl's bicycle behind a dumpster in the back of an apartment building, 1.5 kilometres from where she was last seen, police said.

Neighbours told police that a group of teens had left the bicycle there.