Vacaville, CA - In what can only be described as a horrendous act of animal cruelty, Rex, an 18-month-old Bichon and Maltese puppy, was struck and killed by an on coming car after his back-hind legs were tied together, and he was thrown out the window of a blue Prius car.

The puppy had went missing from his home earlier this month, while his owner, Deb Ferrara, was attending a funeral. Like most concerned puppy parents, Ferrara contacted the local authorities, and her daughter posted a “lost” ads on various social media sites. Rex’s last spotted location was near the Brendan Theaters in Vacaville.

The community with the help of the local authorities search until night never knowing Rex had already been abducted by his soon to be killer.

The search ended with the haunting call that would change Ferrara’s life forever.

Ferrara answered the phone hoping Rex would be home soon, never expecting what she would hear next. A woman’s voice on the other end of the receiver asked, “Do you have a little white dog?' Ferrara quickly answered, ‘oh my god you found him’?!"

Monica Andersen and her fiancé, Erik Gow, were driving by the Davis Street exit off eastbound Interstate 80, "All we saw was this white thing come flying out of a blue Prius," Anderson stated. They quickly realized “the white thing” was a dog!

Anderson tried to save Rex, but because he could not escape oncoming traffic, he was hit and killed by a car before Anderson could get to him. When Anderson reached him, she saw his back-hind legs had been tied together. Ferrara's number on his collar so she made the call to tell Ferrara, her beloved Rex was dead.

In an interview with KCRA 3 News, Ferrara stated, “One of the things I thought of right away was how scared was he, how frightened was he especially when this guy is tying him up and throwing him out of the window! It’s such a cruel way to end a little dog's life.”

The person that abducted Rex, had made sure he could not run from the oncoming traffic.

Ferrara now must go on without her beloved Rex by her side.

"He was the sweetest little dog," she said. "He was my 24/7 companion. I'd had him since he was just a pup."

Anyone with information about Rex's death should contact Officer Josue Cuevas at 707-449-5200 and reference Vacaville PD case number 18-01071.

A reward fund has been set up by Paws 4 Paws Rescue Mission to help find those responsible for Rex's death. As of Sunday morning, they have collected $460.