My Nonprofit Reviews

Rustic Hollow has over the years continued to "be there" for a dear friend of mine when she was in need. She was a foster home for our little non-profit cat rescue in Wisconsin & she opened her doors & her heart to abandoned or stray cats & kitten, working daily to socialize them for adoption. However, her landlord took issue with the number of cats in the home he rented to her & told her that several of the cats must go. After much research & heartache, we decided on Rustic Hollow for these cats, both of whom were FIV+.

This past year, the house she rented changed hands & the new landlord terminated her lease. At this time she had 3 much-loved cats, all her own. After much searching of available places to rent, she reluctantly had to agree to an apartment that allowed only 2 cats. So Rustic Hollow was again called upon to help, which they did.

This cat had been doing well until at the shelter until several months ago when she contracted pneumona & was near death for several days. Her recovery was long & arduous & Carmen & Wanda, who founded & run Rustic Hollow, took this cat into their own home in order to care for her around the clock. They were there for her continually, seeing to all her needs & lavishing her with love & constant care. This kitty did recover altho she continues to be frail, but she never did go back to her quarters in the shelter. Carmen & Wanda have kept her in their home as one of their own cats so they can continue to care for her & see that she is well & happy. Carmen & Wanda are not young women & taking cats like this one into their own home to live as their own is a burden that they assume with love & tremendous compassion.

It is Carmen & Wanda who have from the beginning opened the doors of Rustic Hollow to cats who can no longer stay in their current homes for any number of reasons. They operate on a shoestring but the health & well being of the cats are never compromised. Their staff is imbued with the same compassion & dedicatiion to the cats that characterizes Carmen & Wanda. Surely these women & their Rustic Hollow Shelter are most worthy of recognition for being an outstanding home for cats in need.