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About Us
RESCUE INK is a rescue group unlike any you’ve seen before: a bunch of tattooed, motorcycle-riding tough guys who have joined together to fight animal cruelty, educate abusers and help resolve situations other rescue groups can’t – or won’t – handle themselves.
Some of the guys grew up in the projects, some had their brushes with the law, some used their smarts to survive, even thrive on the streets. But that was then, this is now, and today they all share a common goal: Using every means within the thin boundaries of the law, they persuade and educate abusers about the right way to treat animals.
Like many of the animals they save, the members of Rescue Ink know what it’s like to be given a second chance in life. And they’re using theirs to help the animals, no matter what it takes.
What makes them so effective? Take a look. Would you mess with these guys?
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JOE PANZ
Joe Panz grew up in a Queens neighborhood notorious for wise guys, where taking care of business is a way of life, and you are only as good as your word. He brings that premium on honor and loyalty – as well as some really high decibels – to every rescue. When Joe’s not bailing out pit bulls or catching feral cats, he’s working out at the gym, cruising on his Harley or hanging out with his tiger-striped pit mix, Bond. |
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BIG ANT
Big Ant loves to ride his Harley as well as customizing anything that goes, and it usually goes fast. His motto is “Try to make it, or if you buy, it make it better,” like his 1950 cherry-red Buick or 1966 Nova drag car. Big Ant’s house is bursting at the seams with rescues, from rabbits to cats to Butchie, a pit-bull puppy saved from a used-car lot. And while he’s quick to kid around, watch the fuse: Big Ant can go from teddy bear to wrath of God faster than you can say “braciole.” |
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JOHNNY O
With his “Clark Kent” glasses and ski cap, Johnny O’s look is best described as “coffeehouse biker.” A former personal bodyguard, he loves the martial arts, reflected in his tattoos of symbolic Chinese animals, from a fiery dragon to a contemplative crane. Like all the guys, Johnny O is a pit-bull advocate – he owns two, look-alikes named Lucy and Chuck – and he educates about their undeservedly bad rap every chance he gets. |
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ERIC
Eric’s a man of few words. But if he’s angry at an abuse case, one look at his piercing blue eyes will speak volumes about what he’s feeling. Eric is proof that you don’t need a big dog at your side to be a tough guy: Though he is a Rottweiler lover at heart (his oldest dog, Marley, is a Rottie mix), he also shares his home with three Miniature Pinschers and a Chihuahua mix. |
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G
“G” is short for George. But this Rescue Ink member knows there’s no shortcut to making a dog a calm, stable family member: It takes time, patience and training. G’s proud of his bulldog, Boss, who’s a poster boy for canine socialization. An industrial firefighter and owner of a landscaping business, G rides a Suziki Hayabusa. Yeah, the Harley riders in the bunch give him grief about riding a Japanese bike – but first they have to catch up with him. |
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ANGEL
Angel likes to say he used to protect people from animals – now he protects animals from people. A retired New York City Police detective stationed in upper Manhattan, Angel is Rescue Ink’s resident pet investigator. Whether he’s pulling up a rap sheet or scanning Internet postings for reports of dog-nappings, Angel is a bona-fide cybersleuth. And keeping him company with every keystroke is his deputy dog, a Bichon Frise named Cris. |
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MARY
You may not see her knocking on abuser’s doors or getting inked with a sleeve, but Rescue Ink wouldn’t be able to function without its behind-the-scenes “den mother,” Mary Fayet. A long-time rescuer who specializes in toy dogs, Mary answers calls and emails, surrounded by her pint-sized charges. She’s the glue that holds the Rescue Ink pack together. |
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