OUR BOARD
Cruces Cool Cats is made up of volunteers. There are no paid staff.
Selina Cardoza-Wainer
Founder and Director
For many years, my dream has been to operate a cat rescue. And here we are! Cruces Cool Cats is up and running to help as many homeless cats as we can! I am an animal lover with 4 cats, 5 dogs, 5 large fish tanks, and 1 turtle of my own. I cannot remember a time without an animal in my life.
Cassidy Zehnder
Vice President
I love animals, both domestic and wild, and am really passionate about CCC's mission. I moved to Las Cruces in the summer of 2023 and inherited about 15 community cats with the property. I also have 4 cats and a dog of my own- Zeni, Sparky, Wybie, Mango, and Hazel. I work for a national nonprofit called Project Coyote.
Bob Raynor
General Member
I started out as a volunteer with my wife Debbie in the Spring of 2024. We had recent moved from Deming, NM where we had a community cat named Mocha we loved dearly. She unfortunately passed away, and we will always remember her. I love animals and helping the community.
Jessica Chavez-Molina
General Member
I was born & raised in Las Cruces, having raised 4 children and saved dozens of dogs and cats. I began volunteering in Summer of 2024. My meaning to life is helping as many animals as I can. My family and I take in senior, blind, and hospice dogs. We also inherited a colony of 14 cats when we moved 2 years ago! Pictured is handsome boy, Mo.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Our volunteers are crucial to pursuing our mission. They assist with important programming and tasks like TNR, events, cleaning, socializing, photography, and more. Click here to learn more about volunteering and other ways to help.
Phillip Moreno
Phillip was born and raised in Carlsbad, NM. He has always had a passion for animals of all species. He has been a full time caretaker for Cruces Cool Cats since spring of 2023. He helps a lot with socializing, cleaning, and interacting with volunteers.
Julian
Julian, affectionately called Juju, is beautiful and friendly mutt who CCC adopted from ASCMV in 2023. Julian lives at the sanctuary and gives the cats the confidence they need to be adopted into a variety of homes. He is a very dedicated volunteer!
Sunny
Sunny, short for Sunflower, is a shy but very sweet pup who is besties with Julian and enjoys helping the cats become more social! We rescued her and are so glad she is in our lives.
Jaiden Dean
I’m a barista and proud cat owner with a passion for felines that extends beyond than just my own home. Believing in the mission of Cruces Cool Cats, I am committed to shifting my community's focus towards the pressing issue of the growing feral cat population. Through education and advocacy, I strive to empower individuals to support the welfare of our community cats.
Debbie & Bob Raynor
Debbie and Bob originally hail from Southern New Jersey, but have called New Mexico 'home' for over 20 years. During the pandemic, they were adopted by a dilute calico community cat named Mocha. Due to her clipped ear, they learned of the TNR Program, and heartily support it. Sadly, 2 years after adopting them, Mocha was found to have feline leukemia and passed away. Bob has joined the CCC board.
Destiny Rios
I'm from Las Cruces and I love volunteering because I'm friends with the director, Selina, and have a passion for cats! I have two of my own: Pixie & Flynn. I adopted Pixie from CCC in 2023. She is so smart! I help with laundry and adoption events!
Ella Coffey
I love all animals, ESPECIALLY cats! I go to NMSU and have three rescue kitties of my own. Pictured is Nugget, who I rescued from a parking lot! I also have two jobs, and love to crochet and go to the gym.
Christina Roy
Christina graduated from NMSU in 2023 with a dual master’s degree in Public Health and Social Work. She currently works at NMSU Center of Innovation as a Program Specialist and El Calvario as a Program Manager. Christina started to TNR the cats wandering into her yard and felt compelled to educate and teach others how to care for community cats. She also fosters and works to socialize the friendlier community cats.
Sol Valadez
I'm a student at NMSU and a director at Chick-Fil-A. I enjoy giving any free time I can to helping cherish and care for the precious kitties at CCC. I have a fur baby of my own named Clover! I'm so happy to be involved in such a great cause for our community.
Natalie Esparza & Isaac Gonzalez
Between us, we have 7 cats that we adore. We love cats so much and enjoy giving back to the community by volunteering at CCC. We support their mission and are excited to join them!
Olivia Pina
I'm an NMSU graduate that loves animals. I have three cats (pictured is Borgia!) and two snakes which are the lights of my life! I enjoy being around and helping the cats of Las Cruces which I get to do through CCC.
Carlos Bustamente
I work for the water company and have a lot of interests outside of cats! I love anime, learning to cook, and playing basketball. I have 5 cats of my own and enjoy volunteering
Katy Remacle
I have 2 cats of my own- pictured is Nami! I have loved animals my whole life. I love what CCC is doing. Being able to help our community by volunteering is such a cool experience!