Rescue Ink

You know how every so often you stumble on something that really tugs at your heartstrings? Be warned, this is one of these things.

I read some of the forums over at TWOP and actually looked at this thinking it was something to do with fixing up tattoos. You know, misspelled names, drunken dirty cartoon characters, symbols that are meant to mean "peace" or whatever but are really menu items. Then they'd get a big lecture on not doing stupid crap and everyone would go out for pancakes.

Ooh, actually, that's a great idea for a show. I'd totally watch that.

So. Not that. This is about a group of rough, tough, blue-d and tattoed bikers. Who rescue animals. A lot.

And the more you read, the more incredible this is. These guys look like people you'd cross the road to avoid. They be scary. And they spend their time investigating claims of animal abuse, cruelty, and mistreatment. Check out this excerpt from their website.

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Rebel


Originally named
“Ribbons” because of his tattered, shredded ears, this red-nosed pit bull was found as a stray in Kentucky after a suspected dog-fighting ring had been busted. The ligature marks on his legs and nose suggested he had been bound and used as a “bait dog” to train fighting dogs; his ears were severely infected and oozing pus. Hearing the pit bull’s tragic story, Joe and G spent 16 hours in the air on four-seater plane rides organized by Animal Rescue Flights to bring him to the Rescue Ink clubhouse, and a new life of hope.

Despite the horrors he has endured at the hands of humans, Rebel is a shining example of the remarkable ability of animals to forgive and live in the moment. He is the official Rescue Ink mascot, his scarred face and muscle-bound body embodying the truism that you should never judge a book by its cover.



Pinz

Pinz – named for the bowling-alley fund-raiser that took place around the time Rescue Ink took her in – was brought to the New York City municipal shelter to be euthanized because her eyes were bulging and she was walking in circles. Veterinarians concluded that the 4-year-old long-haired Chihuahua mix had neurological problems that likely resulted from blunt-force trauma to her head.

Today, Pinz has more than doubled her weight, will follow sounds and movement, and will walk in a straight line with encouragement. Whenever the Rescue Ink members gather, whether at a meeting in their clubhouse or a rescue event, tiny Pinz is there, gingerly passed from one set of burly arms to another.


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Holy crap, isn't that terrible? But just picture these big-ass scary looking guys terrifying the daylights out of the guy treating the dog that way. Makes me smile every time.

Now, I love animals. I'm an absolute sucker for them. As I write this, my neighbour's cat is twining her way around my ankles after conning me out of half a sandwich. And I really, really hate people who mistreat them.

An awful lot of the time, it seems that people who deliberatly mistreat animals think of themselves as tough. Hard asses. And the image of these guys - REAL tough guys - coming on up and (verbally) smacking these tools down is freaking wonderful.

It's not just dogs that they help, either. Cats, birds, horses, tiny little kittens, livestock, roosters.... essentially, if something can't help itself they'll take a shot at helping.

So. Thank you, men (and woman) of Rescue Ink. You've helped bolster my faith in humanity, tugged at my heartstrings, and made me cry a little. I hope you're happy!

Seriously, though. These guys make me proud to be an animal lover.

If you'd like to find out more, please check out their website.

Rescue Ink