Bikers Hang in Dunedin Before Humane Highway Tour

Some members of local dog rescue group Dunedin Doggie Rescue got to meet members of National Geographic Channel's hit TV show Rescue Ink last night.

Rescue Ink Foundation, a New York City group of tattooed motorcyclists, who've dub themselves the "Army for the Animals," assists existing animal-welfare agencies and shelters.

"[I] spoke at length to a couple of [Rescue Ink members] and these guys are the real deal," co-founder of Dunedin Doggie Rescue Ken "KK" Koenig said in an email. "The three I talked to each had a couple of pits and are [fostering], or have fostered, other breeds. They were very humble in thanking Dunedin Dog Rescue for saving the dog from kill shelters. As they rode off on their Harleys, I almost want to get tattoos and join them in their 'road mission'."

The group gathered at the at the Downtown Marina last night before kicking off its Humane Highway Tour, which runs today through Sunday and benefits the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and the Florida Boxer Rescue. Rescue Ink kicks off the tour tonight in Clearwater, appears in Tampa on Saturday and ends in Dunedin on Sunday.

Here's the schedule:

• Today, the bikers are at the Quaker Steak & Lube in Clearwater from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Tomorrow, the group will be at Al Lopez Park in Tampa for Bark in the Park, a fundraiser walk for animals, from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
• Sunday, Rescue Ink leads a Poker Run starting in Clearwater and ending at . Registration is at Fletcher's Harley Davidson, 16485 U.S. 19, Clearwater at 9 a.m. The Poker Run starts at 10 a.m. and ends at Honeymoon Island at 12:30 p.m. Join them between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. for live music, vendors, food and drink and a raffle for a 2010 Harley-Davidson XL883N Sportster Iron in Silver Denim. Proceeds benefit the Florida Boxer Rescue.

Dunedin Doggie Rescue is gearing up for its own fundraiser event on Saturday, March 5. is the group's largest fundraiser of the year.