Battered by Sandy, NY's Rescue Ink Shelter Seeks Donations

The rescue group run by tattooed bikers sets up an Indiegogo page to raise money and rebuild.

There are many ways to donate to Sandy relief, but if you're looking for animal-centric concern, look no further than Rescue Ink, the rescue shelter run by large, tattooed bikers who use "their intimidating presence to shame and report animal abusers and rehabilitate distressed animals," according to its Facebook page. The Long Beach, NY, shelter was nearly destroyed in the storm and was flooded, but because it's run by badass bikers, the staff members have their recovery efforts well under way.

Oh, and their dogs? You think these guys would let any harm come to their dogs? The dogs are fine, sitting happily in foster homes until the the shelter can be rebuilt. That's where you come in. The group has set up an Indiegogo page seeking $10,000 in donations.

Here's part of the group's statement on the site:

We've lost towels, litter, dry food, electric systems, bedding, Rescue Ink t-shirts, heat, computers, washer and dryer, everything. ... We even had a car donated earlier this year to help us go on cases. It was also destroyed.

The building is sturdy, it still stands. But the cleaning and restoration will be a hard process.

The sooner we start on the process of rebuilding, the sooner we can get the animals back into the shelter, as well as being able to take in more in the coming days. 

If you'd like to donate computer equipment, washer, dryer, or other items, please write to tracy@rescueink.org.

Thus far, the group has received $5,000, and the quick response left the team humbled. Posted yesterday on its Facebook:

Thank you to everyone who has given. We are humbled by this experience and the outpouring of support. We are determined to make the transition back into the shelter easy for the animals, and quick. We're trying to clean in the dark ... there's no power, no water. We're just doing what we know, trying to make it right for the animals. Please keep sharing, this isn't going away anytime soon for anyone in our area, it's bad for everyone. ... We have so much to do.

In addition to donating, you can vote for the group in the The Animal Rescue Site $300,000 Shelter Challenge of 2012, which is run with Petfinder. The grand prize is $5,000, which would go a long way toward fixing up Resuce Ink.

"We have much to rebuild," Rescue Ink posted on its Facebook page. "So many of you have said you want to help and we are grateful. Let's start here ... if Rescue Ink could win this grant, it would make such a difference."

Photos via Rescue Ink's Facebook.

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