
Wild Love is our annual St.Valentine’s Day Fundraiser, and we are happy to say that Wild Love 2025 is set to go. As we began to organize the fundraiser, we were reminded that we had started Wild Love back in 2012, to celebrate the power of love to gentle even the most frightened, feral animal, and we have held it every year since. Our 2025 Wild Love Sweetheart is Mimosa (AKA Mimi). Mimi was less than a year old when one of our supporters found her, along with her two kittens, in a neighbor’s yard. We brought this trio to our Foster House where they have lived as a little family. Because of her special role in our work, we thought her a perfect candidate for Miss Wild Love!
As most of you probably know, the rules for Wild Love are simple. If you donate $40 or more between January 1 and February 28, 2025, you will automatically be entered in our drawing for a special Wild Love gift package containing well over $200 worth of exceptional gifts. This year’s package includes:

A gift card to Farina Alto Pizzeria and Wine Bar. Located on Montgomery just west of Juan Tabo, Farina Alto has been a long-time friend of Fabulous, and they are a real jewel in Albuquerque’s dining scene, combining the elegance of fine dining with the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere of a neighborhood restaurant. This year, they have been especially generous, giving us a $100 Gift Card.

After dinner at Farina, you can return home to finish your Valentine’s day celebration with a box of chocolates and a movie. The chocolates are part of the gift box, and the film is a favorite of ours, “The Cat Returns” in Blu-Ray. Both have been donated by Practical Tales Publishing. In this delightful fantasy, the well-intentioned Cat King transports a young girl against her will to the Kingdom of Cats. With the help of a mysterious feline adventurer known as “The Baron,” she must find a way to return to her world and family before she is transformed into a cat and stranded in the Kingdom of Cats forever.

In addition to this evening of food and entertainment, our 2025 package includes a unique shawl handknit by Jess, our volunteer. This was entered in the State Fair, and features four different knitting patterns. It was a “mystery knit along” project where Jess and other knitters received a clue each week starting with the type of yarn and where to begin. Each week a new clue arrived until the beautiful shawl was revealed.

This shawl is not the only handmade clothing item to grace our gift box. Sarah K., another talented volunteer, created and donated this warm and beautiful hand knit cowl. Just scrunch it around you neck to stay warm and stylish in cold weather without the hassle of a cumbersome scarf.

Rounding out our gift package is a Mary Kay Gift Box donated by Mary Kay representative Katrina Crandall, another long-time supporter. This gift features an assortment of personal care items including Hydrating Lotion, and Satin Hands Soap, Scrub, Cream, and Protecting Skin Softener, all presented in a lovely, cloth-covered box.

Finally, Practical Tales Publishing has donated a beautiful mug featuring a beckoning ginger cat framed in a wallpaper design adapted from the work of famous Victorian interior designer, William Morris. You can enjoy your favorite hot toddy while watching “The Cat Returns.”