Rescue Ink: Why are you so afraid of the truth?
by Matt Miner and Sloane Quealy-Miner
Rescue Ink, oh Rescue Ink, how laughable your bully tactics are…
On March 9, 2012, BSL News received a “Cease and Desist” letter from Rescue Ink’s General Counsel threatening a lawsuit and demanding a full retraction and an apology for the truthful reporting of the situation in Far Rockaway, NY.
The reality TV “stars” of Rescue Ink will receive neither an apology nor a retraction as BSL News has been thoroughly honest in our reporting and we at BSL News have to wonder what kind of reputable animal rescue organization needs a lawyer on staff, anyways?
C&D letter, complete with misspellings and grammatical errors, received from Rescue Ink (click to enlarge)
Rescue Ink’s Cease and Desist full .PDF file
Reputable animal rescues that we’re familiar with let their work and their reputation do the talking for them, not their attorneys with their lawyer-speak and litigation. Reputable animal rescues spend their time and money helping animals, not suing independent dog rescuers living on tight budgets for making an internet post they didn’t like.
Here’s the thing: Rescue Ink would love for BSL News to cower in fear because of a piece of paper from their lawyer charging us with crimes of libel that have not been committed. They’re expecting it. Why? Because as this drama unfolds we are contacted by more and more people who have similar stories of being bullied into silence by similar “shut up, stop telling the truth, or we’ll sue you” tactics employed by the “tough guys” at Rescue Ink. If Rescue Ink thinks BSL News will follow suit with their other victims and hide in fear, they’re sorely mistaken. We don’t hide, we don’t scare, and we won’t stop speaking the truth no matter how many frivolous lawsuits their lawyer threatens us with.
Here’s the other thing: If one is reporting the truth, one has nothing to fear from a libel suit. BSL News reported only the true facts of the situation in Far Rockaway as observed first hand, and witness statements from sources also involved in the drama. Again, if the truth is on your side then you have nothing to fear. If Rescue Ink takes this to court they will lose. Plain and simple, they will lose. BSL News are not amateur hour mouthbreathers scared of going to court – we are seasoned animal activists who have dealt with our share of bullies in our time and we will not be cowed by tattooed liars hiding behind a guy with a law degree.
Here’s one last thing: Trying to prove a libel case is costly, time consuming, and near impossible. Add to this the fact that BSL News has documented evidence (hundreds of photographs of the situation in Far Rockaway, screenshots of comments made by Rescue Ink representatives that were later deleted by them, witnesses and witness statements from those in Far Rockaway, emails to us from Rescue Ink associates and representatives) of Rescue Ink’s treacherous lies, backing up every single claim made in the article, throughout this whole scenario, and it’s a no brainer: BSL News is fully in the right.
Sorry, Rescue Ink, again, we don’t scare this easily and you won’t threaten us into silence. The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America doesn’t take a breather and look the other way just because Rescue Ink is involved.
There’s no legal ground for a case here (at least on Rescue Ink’s part), but Rescue Ink pays their lawyer to send threatening letters to those who expose their lies and we at BSL News don’t hold anything against the lawyer – he’s just doing his job, as distasteful as some may find it, as dictated to him by his Rescue Ink employers.
OK so on to Rescue Ink’s gripes: What’s Rescue Ink taking issue with in the “offending” post? Well, it’s the use of the word “fraud” which BSL News stands by and we will say it again: Rescue Ink defrauded the public in the Far Rockaway case reported on and it would appear there’s far more going on due to the unreported anecdotal tales that have been pouring into our inbox since we took a stand against these thugs.
So let’s examine this, shall we? In a few simple steps, easy enough for anyone to follow along with, we’ll show that BSL News’ claim of fraud is true, fulfilling Rescue Ink’s lawyer’s request for demonstrated proof, and ending this matter once and for all.
- Rescue Ink claims to be a nonprofit organization.
- Nonprofit organizations raise funds through donations granted to them by well meaning individuals and groups, based on the merit of the nonprofit’s deeds and actions.
- If a nonproft organization takes credit for deeds and actions they had no part in, this helps them raise funds based on work they didn’t do.
This means when the nonprofit organization Rescue Ink lied and took credit for work done in Far Rockaway, they, as a nonprofit organization, furthered their fundraising efforts with these fraudulent claims of work done.
Now let’s take a look at the dictionary definition of “fraud,” shall we?
- deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.
- a particular instance of such deceit or trickery: mail fraud; election frauds.
- any deception, trickery, or humbug: That diet book is a fraud and a waste of time.
- a person who makes deceitful pretenses; sham; poseur.
Seems to fit the situation, right?
We know the guys at Rescue Ink may have more street smarts than book smarts, but we certainly weren’t aware we’d have to waste our time looking words up in the dictionary for them! It’s called Google, Rescue Ink. It looks up stuff for you – it’s helpful for when you don’t understand what a word means.
What’s really tragic about this whole situation is that as a consequence of Rescue Ink’s lawsuit threats against BSL News, Rescue Ink is taking us away from our work which is so urgently important. Rescue Ink is distracting us from the task at hand: helping animals and fighting breedism. Rescue Ink is forcing us to spend money defending ourselves against these ludicrous claims – money that would otherwise be going to help so many needy and abused animals.
That alone should be a crime.
Oh Rescue Ink, you are definitely messing with the wrong crowd of rescuers…
It makes me sad to see rescue feuds and charges of not actually helping the animals.
Good for you Matt & Sloane not just for standing up to these people but also getting it out there so that people know what’s really going on.
There are far too many organisations purporting to be in the business of animal welfare but in reality they’re scamming their supporters and doing nothing for animals.
Animal lovers who donate money to support the efforts of those who really DO help animals deserve to know who the posers are.
Thank you.
How sad that this is where they put their energy and focus. If they felt these things were so untrue, why would they even bother. Thank u for standing up to them, I am just sorry this takes away from ur real focus which is helping animals
Don’t worry koko3mar, this won’t have shifted their focus one iota.
On the contrary it is positive progress for the animals as supporters know where their donations will be most effective in supplying food, shelter and rescue – not another tattoo or Harley!
Maybe one of the Rescue Ink Supporters who read this will be so kind as to answer some of the reasonable questions that keep getting deleted from any of the Rescue Ink Facebook pages. For some reason, everyone that seems to be interested in the answers finds themselves blocked! Questions like:
Why doesn’t Rescue Ink admit that they walked away from their financial and “rescue” responsibility, essentially dumping Rebel, Vesper, Will, Kate, Scrappy, Lucky and Joe Thunder last year when organization was legally disbanded? Thankfully, the courts awarded these “mascots” to Pack Ethic over a year ago, allowing them to remain in their care, ensuring them a good, long healthy life.
Isn’t it fraudulent to continue to actively solicit donations for Rebel, RI’s official “mascot” through Rescue Ink’s “Rebel” Official Fan Page when Rebel has not been in their care for over a year? Doesn’t it misleads donors into thinking that their financial contribution actually goes towards Rebel’s continued care? Any inquiries as to how Rebel is on their page is ignored, which seems appropriate since they don’t know how he is. I can only assume that they don’t want to admit this as they would lose their cash cow.
If Rebel supporters want to make a donation that ACTUALLY GOES to Rebel, they can do so at this link http://www.packethic.com/support. For real updates on Rebel and all the other dogs, like Eric Pack Ethic Bellows on Facebook.
Is a rescue really spending donations responsibly by suing other rescues, especially when they started the problems?
I think this is a good start. I look forward to finally getting an answer! Thanks!
People should have caught on to Rescue Ink when they would not help a dog in their own backyard in NYC because it was not newswortthy. Then when they petitioned to host Saturday Night Live and were getting luxury box seats at Yankee Stadium and going to the locker room? That should have told us all but the final blow was when they tried to trash Eric Bellows who has done nothing but save animal after animal. He is the true rescuer unlike these clowns. I wonder what Dr. Phil would think of these clowns now. Someone should notify him and let him know just what a joke they truly are.
The people Rescue Ink are such wannabe’s who should be ashamed of themselves for how they go about their business they really do try to strongarm people bc they think their tattoos make them tough. Thank God that horrible show of theirs was cancelled I wish someone would cancel them.
I can relate to this below comment because I was one of the many that went to Rebel’s fan page to find out about Rebel…and was misled and ignored.
Gina Hieber says:
March 10, 2012 at 10:40 pm
Maybe one of the Rescue Ink Supporters who read this will be so kind as to answer some of the reasonable questions that keep getting deleted from any of the Rescue Ink Facebook pages. For some reason, everyone that seems to be interested in the answers finds themselves blocked! Questions like:
Why doesn’t Rescue Ink admit that they walked away from their financial and “rescue” responsibility, essentially dumping Rebel, Vesper, Will, Kate, Scrappy, Lucky and Joe Thunder last year when organization was legally disbanded? Thankfully, the courts awarded these “mascots” to Pack Ethic over a year ago, allowing them to remain in their care, ensuring them a good, long healthy life.
Isn’t it fraudulent to continue to actively solicit donations for Rebel, RI’s official “mascot” through Rescue Ink’s “Rebel” Official Fan Page when Rebel has not been in their care for over a year? Doesn’t it misleads donors into thinking that their financial contribution actually goes towards Rebel’s continued care? Any inquiries as to how Rebel is on their page is ignored, which seems appropriate since they don’t know how he is. I can only assume that they don’t want to admit this as they would lose their cash cow.
If Rebel supporters want to make a donation that ACTUALLY GOES to Rebel, they can do so at this link http://www.packethic.com/support. For real updates on Rebel and all the other dogs, like Eric Pack Ethic Bellows on Facebook.
Is a rescue really spending donations responsibly by suing other rescues, especially when they started the problems?
I think this is a good start. I look forward to finally getting an answer! Thanks!
how about this…I will shoot my mouth off and they can waste a bunch of money trying to sue me…when I live way outta state….Freedom of speech is a MF’er aint it!
Nicely said Karen, and I think that they call blocking comments “editing their page” – they are only going to continue exposing their fraud of a rescue by continuing to demand apologies.
I know a HELL of a lot more about what’s really going on in there and Joe or Ant or Joey B, u r more then welcome 2 contact me at any time… I remained a lady for a hell of a long time choosing 2 say not a word. Of course this was after JO ‘Kicked me out of a VOLUNTEER shelter.” Which by the way, is not legally allowed. I see that u have attacked me on a personal level and I am just hear 2 tell u that if u would like to know the TRUTH , please feel free to contact me.
~Colleen Walsh
What a shame. These guys could have really done some good. They had a decent intent in the beginning but they got rid of the “REAL” rescue ink men. Tommy Tattoo and Batso. What was up with that????
I`m gonna volunteer for Rescue Ink in Long Beach. I never even heard of them or their show, I`ve just wanted to get back to volunteering for a long time now & I`m taking them on face value like they`ll do me. I don`t know what this shit is about but you can`t save every animal as much as you`d like to. This is a fucking shame & I don`t get it.
Good luck with that Sharon. You will see.
They have lots of cats & dogs in residence at any time and I wouldn`t penalize (by not volunteering) the animals for any reason. The “face value” I`d mentioned has to do with the assumption that most who would work with animals have an essentially good core though we all have faults and past mistakes. I`m hoping that my experience, and that of my town, will be positive (it seems to be going that way so far). Our shelter got cut and for way too many years the Long Beach population was without, an inexcusable situation. Rescue Ink took over and revitalized the place. I can`t volunteer until next month but my husband dropped in on them and was shown around last week. The cat area is fantastic, there are numerous climbing and lounging trees, they`re not stuck in cages (better for mental health & that kind of atmosphere has been proven to up adoptions). In googling them I`ve seen primarily positive. Oh btw it`s perfectly reasonable for an animal rescue group to have a lawyer on retainer if it`s a sizable organization (these groups of course will have at least one vet on retainer, too). Smaller local groups, like yourselves and the groups some of my friends run, they don`t have funds for retainers but usually know at least one lawyer that they can call upon to help (w/out charging too much) should they need to. At any rate, I`m sorry for your bad experience, and I commend you and thank you for the good work you do in animal advocacy and rescue.
They do not have the best interest of the animals at heart and this has been shown time and time again. Why any true animal advocate would choose to associate with them is absolutely mind boggling. Just doesn’t make any sense. You will see.
Stay strong, Sloane. I believe in what you are doing
Thank you for all you do too Chris, chat soon
RESCUE INK
Reality TV Super show, Rescue Ink is back with a twist. As the first documented group that successfully identified the Canadian Porn killer, Luka Magnotta, known online as the “kitty killer” the team at Rescue Ink has decided to re-focus their attention on saving people.
They have been focusing on saving animals for several years but have now turned to help people who are “out of hope, and out of time” according to Mark Basile, Partner at Axius Entertainment Group.
The group now focuses mainly on saving victims from abuse and to free themselves from their situation while eradicating the abusers. Follow Rescue Ink as they take on cults, pimps, drug pushers, gangs and bully’s in this hard hitting and emotional series.
The original cast members Joe Panz, Big Ant and Johnny O are back with vengeance on their new mission saving people and straightening out abusers the only way they know how.
Show concept and created by Joe Panzarella, Big Anthony Rossano and Johnny Orlandini – Copyright 2008-2012
“As the first documented group that successfully identified the Canadian Porn killer, Luka Magnotta, ”
Lies.
“but have now turned to help people who are “out of hope, and out of time” ”
Lies. Every minute of the new show is staged. Look up ‘Rescue Ink Teaser’ on Youtube, see if any of it seems real.
“Follow Rescue Ink as they take on cults”
Lol. Just lol.
We have just found out that a German Shephard left at the Long Beach shelter named Buford and two kittens died during the hurricane while Joe & Rescue Ink were up in Canada at a fundraiser. (they can’t get any fundraisers down here anymore because the word about them is out) They had ample time to evacuate all the animals & did get most of them out. But claimed Buford had issues (althought he was up & okay for adoption) They claim he had a seizure when the water poured in. Can you imagine that poor dog & what those kittens went through? This is an animal rescue? They let those animals die & that’s on them. Live with it dirtbags.