About Us
Formally established in 2010, Broken Promises SW (BPSW) has been providing humane Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) services for community cats at no charge to residents of southern New Mexico, focusing on Las Cruces, Alamogordo, and the surrounding areas. As of July, 2022 we’ve TNR’d over 1,900 cats and have found homes for hundreds of others.
We teach proper colony management techniques including feeding, sanitation, and trapping to anyone willing to help the cats on their property, at their place of work, or in their neighborhood. We are an organization founded on the principles of compassion and respect toward every animal we interact with, directly and indirectly, and the best interests of the cats will always be our priority.
Our work is done at no cost to the community and we rely on donations to keep us active and our services free. You can keep up to date on what we’re doing by visiting our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/HelpKittenArthur.
Broken Promises SW is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
Our Board of Directors
Susan Alderman: Founder, TNR Project Coordinator, Aviary Manager
Joe Miele: President, TNR Project Executive Director
Rebecca Stanger: Adoption Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator
Arthur, 2014-2021
The honorary founder of Broken Promises SW
Back in 2014, BPSW was a tiny organization funded primarily by a single person that cared for a handful of cats at our sanctuary, and TNR’d around 75-100 cats a year.
Though we were a 501(c)(3) we didn’t receive many donations and aside from the people we TNR’d for, few had heard of us. Then one day all that changed.
As we were trapping a colony in the middle of Las Cruces, a small kitten dragged himself up to us. He’d take two steps, fall over, and then drag himself a few feet. He allowed us to put him in a carrier and we immediately ran this kitten, who we named Arthur, to Schumacher Animal Hospital. X-rays revealed two shattered hips, and Dr. Kyle told us it was likely that this beautiful boy had been kicked or abused in some way.
He needed extensive surgery on both hips with two surgeries spaced several weeks apart. The surgery was going to cost more than we had in the bank but there was no way we’d deny him the care he needed since he was such a young kitten with so much life ahead of him. We scheduled the surgery and figured the money would come from somewhere.
That’s when we decided to start a Facebook page – originally called Help Kitten Arthur – where we posted his pics and told his story.
Our page was shared hundreds of times and we were able to not only raise enough to pay for his surgery but there was some left over to cover some TNR surgeries for other cats. Arthur had his surgery, healed, recovered, and was fostered by one of our board members, who soon fostered failed and formally adopted him.
In many ways, the success and growth of BPSW can be traced back to Arthur. His story established our online presence and has brought us many friends.
Thank you, Arthur. You jump-started our organization and you helped us become who we are today. You will forever be a part of Broken Promises SW, even if your body is no longer here.
