Rescue Ink: Tough Softies Who Help Abused Animals

Posted by Alex in Animal on August 28, 2008 at 2:49 pm


They may look like tough hellraisers, but these tattooed bikers are just big softies. Here’s the story of Rescue Ink and their quest to save abused animals:

THEY met on the local hot rod scene. They saw one another at tattoo conventions around the area, comparing bikes. They looked like heavies, a band of Hells Angels, with nicknames equally tough: Mike Tattoo, Big Ant, Johnny O, Batso, Sal, Angel, Des.

They meant no harm. Clad in leather, inked to the hilt in skulls and dragons, with images of bloodied barbed wire looped about their necks, they shared something else — a peculiar tenderness for animals, and the intensity needed to act on the animals’ behalf when people abuse them.

“I’m a vegetarian,” said Mike Tattoo (real name Mike Ostrosky), a former bodybuilding champion with a shaved head, great arms covered in art and a probing clarity in his blue eyes. “And Big Ant has in his backyard three guinea pigs, a couple of rabbits, birds, cats — and fish everywhere. But just because a person has tattoos, they wouldn’t come running with us.”

Link – Thanks Sarah Wolcheski!

(Photo: Librado Romero / The New York Times)


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13 comments to "Rescue Ink: Tough Softies Who Help Abused Animals"

  1. lynne
    August 28th, 2008 at 5:31 pm

    Great story! I'm glad there are people like these guys out there looking after our furry friends. Too bad so many people abuse or mistreat animals. Thanks guys and keep up the good work!

  2. Silva
    August 28th, 2008 at 5:35 pm

    People can be so shallow. I remember watching an episode of Emergency Vets a couple of years ago. This huge biker dude came in whimpering about how his rabbit wasn't responding. It turned out to be a fatal hairball (I had a rabbit that died of that myself) and the poor guy was bawling over the dead body of his rabbit. A few months later, the same guy comes back with his new rabbit, a French lop named Little Bunny Foo Foo, for a checkup. Bikers have feelings too, see?

  3. cassie
    August 28th, 2008 at 6:34 pm

    Ohhhh, I think my ovaries just exploded, from the cuteness. LOL

  4. Dianne
    August 28th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    Another case of: NEVER judge a book by it's cover. Bless the beasts and the bikers!!

  5. Peeves
    August 28th, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    Awesome. I don't trust people who don't connect with animals in any way.

  6. Ola Amigo
    August 28th, 2008 at 10:08 pm

    Good points Dianne and Peeves. Very true indeed.

  7. Michele
    August 28th, 2008 at 11:33 pm

    I work in retail, in a big-chain pet store and I have to say the heavily tattooed, pierced and "unusual" looking people are almost always very friendly and they care about their pets and animals in general. It just goes to show you can not and should not judge a person by their looks, ever. I fell in love with pit bulls working there, and you oughtta see how some of the "tough ghetto guy" types who have a pittie just start beaming and jabbering away about their dogs to me whenever I show interest in their dogs and treat the owners like just like anyone else. They almost always start going on about how pit bulls get a bad rap and they are actually good dogs, and me telling them they're just preaching to the choir makes them just light up.

    Interestingly, a goodly portion of the most uncaring, cheap and horrible pet owners I see are older, "clean-cut" people who appear to be fairly well off.

  8. MoonCake
    August 29th, 2008 at 6:33 am

    well you got to it before i did, Peeves. that's exactly what i was going to say.

    and michele-- keep this in mind: those older, clean-cut people who "appear" to be fairly well off are the same kind of people "appearing" to run an honest democratic government............ their terrible pet ownership is definitely symbolic of their true nature and behavior. if they can't treat animals right, how can we even expect them to treat their fellow americans right? 90% of lobbyists and CEOs are sociopaths anyways... and our markets are run by these people. excellent.

    the bikers are a bunch of nobel do-gooders! i'm glad they're doing it. i'm sure they get a sort-of edge over other animal rescues too, because violators could only feel intimidated when confronted by a group of bikers.

  9. JamesM
    August 29th, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    Peeves is dead on with that remark. You can see a very good approximation of one's character by how they view, regard and treat animals. If I go out on a date and the other doesn't go "aww!" when a really cute puppy is being walked or even gets annoyed that I want to pet it... Might as well call the date finished.

  10. anewactor
    November 20th, 2008 at 6:48 pm

    This group is nothing but a bunch of Charlatans.
    give and praise people who really do help animals , not this group of Fakes.

  11. clarice
    December 25th, 2008 at 10:22 am

    I am so grateful for you men and the wonderful work you are doing for the animals who suffer at the hands of humans, God Bless you and keep you safe. I would like to make a donation to you and your rescue efforts, please e-mail me the address I can send this to. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing what you do, I also love animals, and totally applaud what you are doing. Keep up the good work men, we love you for what you do!!!

  12. Mamie
    September 30th, 2009 at 6:24 am

    I am so glad to be in a world where we have such great men. Thanks for all yall do. God Bless you all.

  13. julie elsea
    October 31st, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    i think you guys are the greatest these poor animals need a voice you are the best guys for the job you are truly heros in my book thank you and god bless


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