FOR MURRAY LIFE MAGAZINE
January 30, 2012
Rebel With a Cause
Everyone deserves a second chance.
Johnny O of Rescue Ink with Rebel following his recovery.
In the midst of “the ice storm” in January, 2009, a very tattered pit-bull was found
taking refuge in Sara Fineman’s garage here in Murray. After making this startling
discovery, Sara contacted the Humane Society of Calloway County. He was taken in by
the Humane Society and quickly melted the hearts of everyone he met.
The Humane Society named the suffering animal “Ribbon” for the ribbons of
infected and rotted flesh that were hanging down from where his ears had previously
been. While the Humane Society and Westside Veterinary Service provided him the
veterinary care that he needed, he began healing; recovering from being used as a “bait
dog” to train fighters in dog-fighting rings. Unknown stories laid behind the ligature
marks on his legs and nose and severely infected ears that were oozing puss. Emails went
out from the Humane Society; Ribbon’s story circulated the country and reached
metropolitan New York within a week.
Ribbon’s remarkable story spread to the men of National Geographic’s then
upcoming series, “Rescue Ink Unleashed,” who want to help. Just fifteen days after
Ribbon was found in Murray, he was taken in by Rescue Ink Inc. Following a sixteenhour flight coordinated by Animal Rescue Flights from Connecticut to Murray, Joe Panz
of Rescue Ink and a National Geographic cameraman met with the Humane Society
Executive Director Kathy Hodge and other Humane Society volunteers to transport
Ribbon to his new life of hope and a home in Long Beach, New York.
Although Rescue Ink’s original plan was to nurse Ribbon back to health and then
find him a home, the men at Rescue Ink soon came under Ribbon’s spell and they
decided to adopt him. Upon adoption, Ribbon became the mascot for Rescue Ink Inc. and
was re-named Rebel. Rescue Ink is an animal rescue group of heavily tattooed
motorcycle riders who use an in your face approach to fight animal abuse and neglect and
rescue animals in need. With the reality-TV series “Rescue Ink Unleashed,” Rebel joined
the men on raids, his scarred face and muscle-bound body declared that you should never
judge a book by its cover. He accompanied the men as they carried their message of hope
and redemption to treatment centers for troubled youth, rehab centers, schools, etc.
Three years following his rescue from the ice storm, Rebel has reached star status.
He has traveled the country and appeared with the men of Rescue Ink on several national
shows including sharing the stage with Dr. Phil as he confronted a man convicted of
animal abuse on the Dr. Phil show. Click here to see the trailer for the Dr. Phil show with
Rebel’s photo on the backdrop and Rebel himself front and center on the stage. He also
appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and of course National Geographic’s “Rescue
Ink.” He even has his own fan page on Facebook. Check out Rescue Ink’s “Rebel”
Official Fan Page. The men of Rescue Ink have recently re-opened the Long Beach
Animal Shelter and never forget that Rebel’s scarred face encourages them and all of us
to never judge a book by its cover.
February 2012 is the third year anniversary of Ribbon’s rescue by the local
Humane Society and the beginning of his journey to his “Forever Home” in New York
City.
You can see photographs and learn more of Ribbon, now Rebel’s, rescue at
www.ForThePets.org. See more about Rescue Ink, Inc.’s work at www.rescueinkredemption.com.
For more information about any of the Humane Society’s programs, contact the
Humane Society of Calloway County at 270-759-1884, humanesociety@murray-ky.net,
visit our website at www.forthepets.org, find us on Facebook or stop by our office at 607
Poplar Street Suite A-1, Murray.