Foreclosure pets are being rescued by pilots who are members of Animal Rescue Flights, which operates in all states where there are volunteers, and motorcycle riders who comprise Rescue Ink, which is based in Long Beach, New York.
ARF was formed in March 2008 by two pilots who came to know that a lot of dogs were being euthanized by shelters because they no longer have space for more animals or do not have enough funds. As foreclosures forced families out of their homes, more pets were being abandoned or taken to shelters.
Additionally, at a time when shelters need more help to care for more animals, donations and funding dropped and volunteers left to take on additional jobs to support their families.
The two pilots encouraged their friends, other pilots and other volunteers to help, taking pets from overloaded shelters and then transporting them to families who are able to care for the pets.
Because of their voluntary work, the pilots have attracted media attention and were featured on television after transporting 31 dogs and cats from the state of South Carolina to adoptive pet owners in New England.
Recently, ARF teamed up with Rescue Ink, another group that rescues foreclosure pets and other abandoned animals, on their show on National Geographic Channel to promote their rescue work and educate viewers about the need to neuter or spay pets to control the country’s problem of animal over-population.
Rescue Ink is a unique rescue organization because it is run mostly by men who come from disparate backgrounds, but who share a common love for tattoos, animals and loud motorcycles.
Rescue Ink members work in different industries, but they set aside time for rescuing neglected animals throughout the New York metro area. They also travel to different cat shows and animal events to improve awareness about cruelty to animals. National Geographic got interested in their animal rescue work and launched a weekly series to cover their feats.
The bikers confront pet abusers or convince pet owners to surrender their animals to Rescue Ink if they could no longer care for their pets. The organization is funded by donations and by the members themselves.
Both of these two organizations have websites that describe their work and that provide ways for people to volunteer, donate or help in any way they can. At the Rescue Ink website, people are also encouraged and guided through the process of adopting foreclosure pets or other neglected animals.
