Rescue Ink: Big, Sweet, Tattooed Animal Lovers

People make a lot of assumptions about other people based on appearance. We may try not to, but it happens. The guys from Rescue Ink are okay with that. In fact, they encourage it!

Rescue Ink is a nonprofit animal rescue organization, run by a bunch of hulking, tattooed, seriously intimidating dudes — who are a bunch of big softies when it comes to dogs and cats. They're just not so sweet when it comes to dealing with the people who neglect or abuse our furry friends.

The tough-looking group formed out of a shared passion for rescuing animals. According to their site, they are willing to do anything to stop abuse, within the boundaries of the law. And looking at them, you can tell they are willing to walk right up to that line. When I say these guys look intimidating, I mean 74-year-old custom-car expert Batso has a spiderweb tattoo ... on his face. And then there is Joe Panz, who has guns (aka "biceps" on lesser mortals) the size of anyone else's thighs — gigantic, super-hero-size thighs!

Rescue Ink is sort of a super-hero organization. They will step in when other nonprofits are unwilling, or unable to respond. They run a hotline to report abuse, neglect, or even if you need help caring for an animal. The group also runs several excellent education and outreach programs:

The Puppy Mill Consumer Awareness Program, which aims to educate the public about the terrible conditions in puppy mills, so people will make better decisions about where to get a pet, like going to a reputable shelter. Through the Companion Outreach Services Program, Rescue Ink brings rescued animals for therapeutic visits to people in nursing homes, veteran's hospitals and other assisted living situations. Rescue Ink is helping manage the growing problem of feral cat colonies through The Feral Cat Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) Program. Since there are too many feral cats to place in homes, they are trying to at least slow the population growth. They may look lawless, but Rescue Ink actually partners with law enforcement and animal control officers on The School Visitation Initiative. The group goes to schools and teaches elementary and middle school students about respect for animals, how to recognize abuse and the right way to handle it — by going to the proper authorities. Through the Animal Housing Workshop, the Rescue Ink guys get out their tools and build shelters for animals who live outdoors year-round, including feral cats and outdoor dogs with families that won't (or can't) give them a house of their own. This program is also part of the Rescue Ink youth program, with middle and high school students volunteering to help with the care and carpentry. The Pit Bull Awareness Program is focused on ending dog fighting. Rescue Ink tips off the authorities when they find fights, and they train the public on how to identify a facility used to train or fight dogs.

In addition to all of these programs, Rescue Ink is also a strong and vocal advocate for robust animal welfare legislation, and they work at local, state and federal levels. You can lend your support to any of these programs through the Rescue Ink website.

The group is based in New York City, but they have fans all across the country and donations are always welcome. The motorcycles, muscles and leather make an appealingly racy image for the media — plus it's just who these guys are — but the best characterization of Rescue Ink is that they are a group of thoughtful, dedicated and caring individuals, who saw a need and decided to do something about it.

That motivation and activation makes me admire them as much as their work with animals ... and okay, yeah, the piercings and tats are pretty cool, too! Hat tip to Jezebel for leading me to Rescue Ink.