Okay so not so much a creative thread title I suppose. :) But I couldn't find a forum for this show and started one for this. I kept on seeing previews for this show called Rescue Ink and seeing tattooed men on motorcycles saving animals.

Here is the main link I could find on it: Rescue Ink

The other link I could find was about their website: Main Site For Rescue Ink

I love any show that has animals in it and people you wouldn't quite expect to be champions of animals. And I hope I can catch an ep for it when it premieres on Sept 25.. not too far away now!

Anyway it sounds like it'll be interesting to watch. Some of these guys probably get results just by how they look. I mean how many animal abusers are going to protest some big burly dangerous looking dude with tats, demanding their dog? The previews certainly look interesting.

To bad these guys didn't pay a visit to Michael Vicks farm when the dog fighting was going on and save those dogs! Would love to see Vick and his little gang of punks tangle with these guys!

Like the OP I love animals and sometimes get upset while watching Animal Police, so I know these guys will set the tears flowing when they resuce some animals!

I love these guys!

Animal abusers are snivelling little cowards and I'd love to see these guys make them cry for their mommies.

I'm so happy to see this forum. These guys truly put their hearts out there for the animals. I hope that the show is a big success, and brings more attention to animal rescue. Some of the guys will be on Good Morning America tomorrow. Their book is out now also.

Yay! From the minute these guys had a write-up (and slideshow!) in the New York Times, I've been hoping they would get an animal rescue show of their own.

Here's the original article and slideshow. The New York Times website requires registration (which is free) to access some content, not sure if these links require registration or not:

This is a link to the article.

And here's a link to the slideshow (warning: cute overload in action, lots of awww pics of tough dudes with teeny kitties and pupsters).


ETA to neaten up the linkage.

Thanks for the linke, falconress. I had never heard of these guys but I'm loving what I hear now! I can't handle watching animal cops mostly because I feel like nothing bad ever happens to the people who abuse/neglect the animals. These guys seem like they might get better outcomes because they don't have a government agency to account to.

Man, if more folks became animal vigilantes think of what kind of world we would have.

Series premier tonight! Honestly can't wait to watch although will have to record it. I have a friend who apparently met one of the guys, and she said she was totally shocked on how great he was and that she wouldn't have thought so from his appearance alone.

And thanks for the links falconress. I'm glad someone is doing a show like this. There are other organizations that do things to help abused/neglected animals other than cops and it's about time we get a show like this.

Actually, that raises an interesting question, under what authority do they work. The NYT article doesn't specify and neither does their website. I sure as hell wouldn't mess with any of these dudes, but I can imagine that if someone is running an illegal pit bull breeding operation, he may very well be just the type to stand up to these guys. And setting aside the way they look, they'd have to have some kind of authority if they want to take animals off private premises. I'm betting that this - the legal issue - has all been worked out before the show airs. At least, I hope so.

It's a great story, because a casting director couldn't have come up with a better crew and these guys are the real thing, not a bunch of people who auditioned. Some of them were working so intensively on rescue that they lost their day jobs, so it would be great if the show generates enough income to let them do this full-time without worrying about how to pay the rent or the vet bills.

And I'm crazy about the pic of the guy with the skull rings holding the teeny kitty who needs to be fed by syringe! Just shows that love and compassion sometime come in the most unlikely packaging.

They've done a lot of press which I've managed to miss yesterday and today. I did remember to set my dvr for tonight's show. I went to a fund raiser they held last year, they're very dedicated guys.

*Bangs head on desk* I ended up setting record on the wrong show, so I totally missed the first ep. Does anyone know how it went? And what happened in it? Hopefully I can catch a rerun of it.

I found out that my satellite package - which apparently gives me 150 channels, of which I probably have tuned in to maybe 10 in the past seven years - doesn't include NatGeo. Grrrrr. Maybe there are full episodes online somewhere - Hulu or something.

falconress if you go to the Nat Geo link I put in the beginning and click on video's, you'll get to see some short videos of the guys, as well as introductions. I have to say that one that I think probably gets the most results in Batso (sp?) because of all the head tattoos... Not trying to judge or anything, he just seems like someone you don't want to mess with. And Big Ant too...

I watched a few of the videos and instantly felt their dedication to what they do. Especially the bits where their yelling at the abusers.

I can't find any online eps yet. I tried Hulu, no luck. Comp won't let me check out tv shack, so no luck there. There seems to be a lot of videos/excerpts on You Tube... but yeah still can't find any full episodes yet.

I thought it was a good show. I'll definitely watch it again. I was a bit disappointed they couldn't beat the crap out of the cat shooter.

I just wish they weren't using that overly serious voiceover guy they used for the Dogtown series. A lot of this series is comedy gold. Big Ant: "Let's go chase some chickens." Batso's dogs wearing sunglasses. The unimpressed lady in Queens asking if she is supposed to sing a song because they managed to catch a rooster.

For further laughs check the About Us section of the Rescue Ink web site - for instance THIS hilarious photo of Big Ant with a cat and a bird. Batso makes his own all-natural soaps? They describe Johnny O's look as "coffeehouse biker"? Good stuff.

I watched. The fact they are a volunteer group with no legal authority does create some problems. They were standing there badgering the guy who was shooting the BBs at the cats and it was pure harassment, and he rightly called the cops on them. Do I agree with him trying to harm the cats? No, but they had no legal standing to be roughing him up on his own property. The minute footage airs of them jumping a fence or otherwise trespassing to get to an animal they will be getting a visit from local law enforcement. The hook-tough guys who look like they're escapees from Hell's Angels who help cute, defenseless animals-is a good one, but I can't give wholesale support to this crew.

SisterOfSylar, thanks, I found the clips, and wish I could see the episodes. I hope they will show up somewhere online after they air.

I am really puzzled as to why they aren't working under the auspices of some authorized agency. As I noted, I took a liking to their offbeat style from the time I saw the article about them in the Times, but if they were kind of an ad hoc bunch until then, I felt sure that by the NatGeo invested in producing a show about them, some legal "suit" would have made sure all the "t"'s were crossed and "i"'s dotted. I'm concerned that not having any real authority is going to bite them in the butt real quick, and it's a damn shame, because they're doing some very important work. They can stand up to scofflaws who are every bit as tough as they are, and they seem to have the smarts to know that it's best to try to resolve a situation through cooperation before flexing muscles.

I'm holding out hope that they are working under legal advice, and working within the limits that the law allows them, as a private organization. Maybe they just don't feel the need to delineate what those limits are during the broadcasts. Damn, I wish I could see the episodes (not that I would understand the law any better, just want to see them in action).

Well from the looks of it, they do have a former cop working with them. Angel. He probably still has his connections with the local law and all that. Plus I doubt Nat Geo would invest in this without making sure these guys are l legally protected to. Otherwise, if they aren't, lawsuits.

So it may not look like they have any legal authority, but who knows? Perhaps they have their backing and it's sort of quietly done.

As long as local government isn't taking care of abused, neglected, and abandoned animals or punishing those who are doing the abusing, neglecting, and abandoning, these guys have my 100% support. *Someone* needs to tell guys like Pellet-Shooting Edward what he's doing is NOT okay. If it were up to me, they'd be doing a lot more than standing on his property and "harassing" him.

I'm a sucker for a good animal rescue show. I really wanted to like this one, but it just seems so...contrived. Those guys have no authority whatsoever. Are you telling me that private citizens are letting those dudes- and their camera crew - into their homes to film the poor treatment of their animals? That guy with the basement full of dog poo - he just let them walk right in and inspect the place? And order him to sweep it up while they stood there and watched him? Ditto for the piranha guy. He stood there and waited for them to set up all the lights and camera equipment and then chastise him for letting his little girl near the fish tank? And then both of the guys signed releases so it could be shown on tv? I don't buy it.

Both of the cases you mentioned appeared to involve immigrants. I think it's more likely that they didn't have a true understanding of what was happening and felt intimidated and confused. The way the guys kept showing up uninvited and threatening to come back with the guy with the dog was a little much. Isn't that harrassment? I appreciate what they do and they seem to be good guys. I just get uncomfortable with the idea of legal rights being trampled on. Slippery slope and all that.

The people have to sign releases, but I don't think that means the cases are contrived. If it was all a planned storyline we would have seen a heartwarming reunion between Pinky and her owners. I was expecting a happy ending dammit!

I was also expecting a happy ending with Pinky! I was happy however, that in the previous episode Nike was taken in by rottie rescue and at least given a chance to be adopted when his issues are worked out. Having just lost my beloved rottie Tasha to cancer, I am pulling hard for Nike.

I guess the people signing releases must be getting something in return as who would want to be shown living in a shit house? Who would want to be defined as a cat killer? Beats me why people would let them ont heir property, but if the pets are being saved I am not going to question it.

I just discovered this show today.

Princess's story drives me insane. They show the owner and his nephew, who professed his deep love for the dog, but that dog was terrified of everything. I suppose I should be glad they were willing to give her up for her own good and didn't just kill her or whatever, but how can your love for an animal not grow into a better understanding of what that animal -- and the animals like it -- need? How can you not become a better owner and take it upon yourself to learn about their needs? How can you have that many dogs and not start being a better owner by socializing them, training them, building their confidence, etc., all in effort to make them happier?

Excuse me while my heart fails to bleed for the guy shooting at cats. There comes a point where you just have to step in when you see someone doing harm like that.

If I see someone shooting at cats, I'm going to be all over them and I don't care who arrests me for what.

All that said, I really wish I could stand to watch animal rescue shows but I just can't. They upset me too much - even when they have happy endings. Even so, I love the idea of this show a lot.

Did I miss a new episode last night. I fell asleep and forgot to set the DVR. All of the showings that I can find this week seem like shows I've already seen.

Did anyone watch last night? Was it on? Was it a rerun?

I'm pretty sure it was a new show, I hadn't seen it before. They rescued a dog from a backyard pen and made arrangements for him to be socialized with other dogs, then G took him in and socialized him further with his own dog Boss.

There was also an intervention with a cat hoarder - I forget how many cats she and her family had but it had to be almost a hundred. How on earth does anybody feed all of them? Looks like the guys brought in other volunteers and they were getting the cats medical treatment, fixed, and adopted out. I love our four but four is where I draw the line - and the only reason we have four is because of a dipshit asshole trashy neighbor who 'gave' us a kitten - one that reeked of cigarette smoke, the vet told us was quite undernourshed for his age, bowlegged, and who liked to root thru the dishes in the sink for any leftover plate morsels. He doesn't do that anymore and Tarzan Charlie is doing very well thank you, and owns us completely.

I love these guys. I'm pretty sure they've mentioned on prior shows that if they feel the situation may be out of their hands they contact law enforcement.

I pretty much fell in love with the partially paralyzed dog Brownie in the last episode - does anyone know if the wheelchair fit him , and if his family was able to keep him?
I was surprised to see that Ant had a wife and she was fairly attractive.

Wow, that bulldog breeder was a piece of work, wasn't she? What I don't understand is why anybody would buy a dog from her in the first place, though. One look at her and I would have kept right on going; it's so obvious she was a backyard breeder in it for the bucks. I just hope that pulling her license stops her from selling dogs, but something tells me she'll keep right on doing it under the table.

But I did like the way the guys handled it -- went in, gathered evidence, and then turned it over to the authorities. And backed off the moment they found the undercover ASPCA investigator on the job. For a group without legal standing, that's really about as good a way to handle something like that as I could think of.

I was just sickened, however, by the nurse mare operation. And I'm not even going to talk about it any more because it just breaks my heart. I hope I can even bring myself to watch this show again. This was the first time I'd seen it, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle it. I'm still not sure. :(

Me too. I'd never heard of such a thing, but it's just another example of the cruelty running rampant in horse racing. And the woman running the nurse mare farm seemed like she thought she was some great humanitarian the way she was running her farm, allowing them to buy her foals. Yeah, lady, if you really cared about the animals you wouldn't participate in this, overbreeding the mares, taking the foals away from their mothers, that just screams I lurve animals.

Love these guys and if they want to harass the fucktards who abuse animals, more power to them. Is it wrong that I hope they go back later without the cameras and have a come-to-Jesus talk with these douchebags. I did have one question about the rescue that had the 2 pit bulls stolen. They said the dogs were not neutered. Every rescue I've ever heard of, first thing they do is neuter the animal so there won't be more animals to find homes for - and I would think that would be especially true for a breed like pits which are so often used for fighting and other questionable purposes. I'm curious why these dogs weren't already neutered.

Maybe the unneutered pitulls were new to the shelter or they came in with health issues that needed to be resolved before surgery. It is possible that the Freeport shelter didn't have funds for neutering. I've been to that shelter. While it is obvious that they care deeply for the animals, the place appears seriously underfunded. Food and a roof over theanimals heads may be all they can offer at times :(

I'm sorry to say, its not just in horse racing. There's a whole industry involving the production of Premarin, where the mares are kept pregnant all the time. The foals are born and basically discarded so the mare can be bred again. Those farms are as bad as the nurse mare farms. As a horse owner myself, it makes me sick.

I actually heard about that bulldog breeder when I was looking for a dog myself....not a bulldog, but it was on a breeder forum. And she did post in response to what people were saying about her and it was very nasty. Bulldogs are typically very expensive, and the only thing I can think of is that she might charge slightly less than other breeders and that's how she was able to get people to buy. Also she had so many that you could basically get one whenever and not have to get on a waiting list like you might at another breeder. Clearly those that bought did not do their research (bulldogs can have lots of health issues even when born at the most reputable breeder), but I feel so badly for those people regardless of whether or not they made the wrong decision. Falling in love with a dog only to watch it suffer and then die is awful, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. The money they wind up putting out only adds insult to injury.

Something else annoyed me about the foal segment, besides from how sad it was....why would Mira Sorvino's sister (can't remember her name) not call first and find out how much the lady charged and then go with the appropriate amount of money? I thought it was ridiculous that she was so unprepared and then everyone had to dig in their pockets for money. She should have found out how much they were, brought enough money, and then maybe try to get a deal once she was there. I felt she put the guys in a tight spot. I mean I'd think she'd go to her father and/or sister for money before some rescue organization.

On a shallow note, the rescuer Johnny is hot. We need to see more of him.