My Nonprofit Reviews

Sweet Rex.

That was the name I gave to a male homeless cat I'd just trapped in a very dangerous situation at the Albuquerque International Airport. Rex was named in honor of a friend having some medical issues, and was also the husband of an unstoppable TNR advocate. The "Sweet" part of his name came from Rex's caregivers at C & W Rustic Hollow Shelter once they met this fine, lovable gentleman. Just minutes after he was trapped, he was meowing to be released, never to utter a hiss of fear or stress. He was just good natured, 'Sweet.'

As an animal advocate with a home already too full of lovable felines, I relinquished Rex to the local Animal Humane branch . . . he passed all the tests of sociability . . . only to test positive for FeLV . . . they were going to euthanize him! Horrified at the news, I convinced them I would responsibly find Rex a home, or at least a rescue organization where he would be safe.

That's when Sweet Rex's luck began to change. A superb rescue group in it's own right in Corrales, NM, stepped up and agreed to sponsor and help Sweet Rex find a home. Meanwhile, I was frantically searching privately for a forever home, even placing a newspaper ad with his picture. The responses to that ad were alarming and it became clear Sweet Rex's plight was desperate. But hope was never lost. The director of the Corrales rescue group knew of a shelter, almost 1,200 miles away, in Nashua, Iowa, that just might have a spot for Sweet Rex. Shortly after the request, we got the 'sweet' news . . . news that C & W Rustic Hollow Shelter would make room & welcome Mr. Sweet Rex into their fold, for the rest of his wonderful life. My heart nearly burst with relief & joy!

But how were we to get Sweet Rex to Nashua? It's at least a 2-day drive each way from Albuquerque to Nashua. How about a round-trip pass for a human passenger escort on an airline that accepted felines in the cabin? And yes, that very pass was donated by an animal lover upon learning of Sweet Rex's need. I just happened to work for that very same airline at the time and was able to easily persuade the gate agent to waive the reservation fee so Sweet Rex could board free of charge!

And so off they went. Sweet Rex and his escort. Sweet Rex didn't know that his escort on this journey, in his professional life, was an aide to a sitting US Senator, and the husband of the director of the Corrales rescue. But this trip was part of the escort's private life, and this was Rex's chance at his new life! It was in August, 2012.

Sweet Rex's story is also the story of C & W Rustic Hollow Shelter. I love what the word 'shelter' connotes. It gives hope to the infirmed, the wayward, and the homeless & their advocates, that there is a welcoming place to call home, no questions asked, forever!

Sweet Rex crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in April, 2014.

In an email notifying me that Sweet Rex had passed, Co-founders Carmen Linda Conklin & Wanda L. Orric wrote, "He fought the good fight, but the feline leukemia is something they cannot fight once it has a stronghold and is active in their bone marrow. Sweetest kitty ever. He is so missed. Always tears in our FeLV room when a kitty leaves, but Cristina (Swinton), his caregiver said, it's still the quality of life they have here, not the quantity. It is so true. They don't know they have this awful disease that could take them any time. They just live and are content and happy and loved. So sad today. Wanted to let you know right away.
Carmen and Wanda"

In my most humble opinion, C & W Rustic Hollow Shelter 'IS' unequivocally the 'DEFINITION' of a 'GREAT NONPROFIT!' The shelter constantly seeks ways to fundraise for all the necessary items essential in maintaining and sustaining a shelter. I'll never quite comprehend the day to day pressures involved in caring for an ever-growing number of wayward & homeless, medically & socially compromised cats. It's a selfless staff with many volunteers that make a great team, along with their passion, commitment, compassion, dedication & love for their clients, that makes C & W Rustic Hollow Shelter one of the VERY BEST!!! I will forever be thankful to them for the care & love gracefully afforded to just one amazing cat, . . . SWEET REX!!!

Sincerely,
Jeff Alexander