Days after a beloved pit bull was found and returned home, Lucy the pit bull's celebration was cut short after her owners discovered she may have fallen into the hands of dog fighters while she was missing.
Three weeks after escaping her pet sitter's house, Lucy the pit bull was found safe Monday after a successful search launched by hundreds of volunteers. Lucy, who was a rescue, is well known as a greeter for the Westside Pet Clinic in Santa Monica. Her story captured the hearts of thousands on social media who were determined to help in her search.
When Lucy's injuries were examined, specialists suspected that she may have been used as a bait animal, which are used to train fighting dogs.
"This linear scab across her muzzle, it kind of has an indentation," said Tina Son, a vet critical care specialist.
Fighters use dogs as animal bait by tying their mouths closed and breaking and filing down their teeth.
Eleven of Lucy's teeth on her upper jaw are broken or filed down.
"They were perfectly healthy teeth that somehow got this almost filing down effect, down to the level of the gum," Son said.
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A bait dog's teeth are removed and filed down to keep them from fighting back and injuring the fighting dog.
"They don't fight back, and they just lay there helpless, and it's basically just to get the taste of blood in their mouths," said Katie Cleary, the founder of the animal welfare organization Peace 4 Animals.
Lucy's owners, Antje Hinz and Finn Egan, are heartbroken.
"I was in agonizing pain for her," Hinz said.
But they hope her story can warn other pet owners of the dangers that can happen to lost pets.
"We want to have people aware that things like this could happen," Egan said. "Make sure you have microchips and tags and take the best safety you can."
