B.B. King Sings The Lost Dog Blues

(CBS/AP)  B.B. King's dog, Lucille, has disappeared, and the legendary bluesman is offering an autographed copy of one of his signature "Lucille" guitars in an effort to get her back.

The 2-year-old white female Maltese, named after King's signature guitar, disappeared about 10 days ago in West Hollywood while she was under the care of his co-manager, Matthew Lieberman.

"We're not sure how she got out of the yard, perhaps a gate was ajar," Lieberman said in a statement Monday.

Canvassing nearby animal shelters and putting up some 500 signs failed to turn up any trace of Lucille so the 80-year-old musician decided to offer a signed guitar as a reward.

This past weekend, King said he was surprised to hear reports that he is embarking on his last tour.

"The people are printing these things and they didn't get permission to do it and no one asked me," the Mississippi native told The Associated Press during a recent phone interview from his hotel room in Ithaca, New York.

According to a recent press release from Jerry Digney, King's publicist, the blues singer would be embarking on an international "Farewell Tour" in March, part of a domestic tour kicking off in Chicago on Feb. 16.

The release prompted confusion that this tour may be King's last altogether.

"Both could be true but I didn't say it and nobody asked me. I'm hoping it's not true," King said. "Someone just told me that they saw it on, I believe, CNN ... And I said 'God, I hope it ain't.'"

Jerry Brown, also a King publicist, said the "Farewell Tour" does not mean this is a last chance to see the singer perform.

"This is probably the last all-in-one encompassing worldwide tour and when its over there will be some one-off dates but B.B. will tour North America for the most part," Brown said.

Those one-off dates could include shows overseas, he said.

At age 80, King believes touring has extended his life span.

"I got a chance to ride today on a very nice bus and from my window I can see how beautiful this country is and how nice it is to be alive and that to me is like extra vitamins," he said.

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