She may lose all her hair, but Rebecca Rosales, owner of the Sunny Legacy Cat Shelter in Burlington, is willing to make that sacrifice if it helps her save more cats.
Sunny’s Legacy will be holding a fundraising event at Burlington Eagles #150, 2727 Mount Pleasant St. From 12 noon until 6 pm on Saturday.
Rosales will sell authentic Mexican food (including tamales, street tacos, iot cups, rice sides, single tacos, and single tamales) and Tres Leach for dessert.
Raffles and a 50/50 contest, information on low-cost sterilization and neutral clinics, and prepaid orders for exclusive Sunny’s Legacy T-shirts will be part of the event.
There won’t be any cats at the fundraiser, but the biggest attraction is that if Sunny’s Legacy can raise $50,000, Rosales will shave her head. The ultimate goal is to help keep the shelter afloat and with the resources it needs to continue carrying out its mission.
“I needed a bigger place, with enough space, electricity, heating, and air conditioning,” Rosales said. “I just needed a better facility. And it’s still tough. After nearly five years of doing this,[the situation with area cats]is getting worse, not better. With a number of kittens or cats affected, the situation hasn’t improved.” ”
more:‘I Don’t Want To Leave Them’: How Sunny’s Legacy Helps Burlington’s Feral Cats
Since 2017, Rosales has been caring for feral and surrendered cats in the area. In February, Sunny’s Legacy became officially licensed by the state as a no-kill shelter and continues in business to provide shelter, health care, and new homes for the cats rescued by Rosales.
Rosales has two sheds on her property: one to provide shelter and safety for feral cats that are either not ready for adoption or who may never find the right beds, and one to house domestic cats ready for adoption.
But caring for felines is not cheap. Rosales estimates, the shelter spends $3,000 a month on food, supplies, housing and medical care.
Sunny’s Legacy is powered almost entirely by cash and donations, aluminum can recycling (also donated), and the personal finances of Rosales and her family.
To help take care of more cats, Sunny’s Legacy is preparing to open a shelter and adoption center at Morning Sun. Rosales declined to reveal the location of the new facility or when it opened, but said she would continue to live in Burlington and that the new location would allow her to house and care for more cats.
“I will be able to carry 50 to 70 cats, as opposed to the 15 I can keep here,” she said.
more:New partnership between Des Moines County Humane Society and Sunny’s Legacy to help provide care and adoption for feral cats in the area
Rosales said the new facility will include a playroom where potential adopters can interact with the cats, as well as host community events.
“I plan to do a lot of fun things there to help raise money to maintain the shelter,” Rosales said.
Rosales said she plans to hold a major opening event once the new shelter is up and running.
In April, Sunny’s Legacy announced a partnership with the Humane Society of Des Moines County that will house and care for sick and injured cats, and kittens who still need to be bottle-fed, from the Humane Society. The Humane Society has approved the taking of Sunny’s Legacy cats currently ready for adoption, depending on the capacity of each shelter.
Rosales said the partnership is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
more:Build-A-Bed Burlington founder works to help kids in need find their own place to sleep
But Rosales said some cats have been difficult to adopt, especially with the application process required by Sunny’s Legacy in order for Rosales to verify that a potential adopter is able to care for a cat and can provide a suitable home.
“I’ve taken several cats and people have seen the photos on Facebook and are saying, ‘Oh, we want them!’ And I will ask them to fill out an application and some of them think they can just take a cat,” Rosales said. “But we need them to fill out the application because this is required by law.
“I understand it would be much easier to just hand it over to anyone,” she added. “I can find them homes all day. But I’ve spent so much time, sweat and tears in these cats that I want to make sure they go to the best home. They’ve really lived a hard life.”
Those unable to attend Saturday’s fundraiser can still help Sunny’s Legacy by donating aluminum cans that Rosales will exchange for cash for recycling. Those wishing to donate cans are asked to contact Sunny’s Legacy through her Facebook page for instructions.
Rosales said she no longer donates the bottle.
“The other day I almost found a hypodermic needle and stopped taking bottles,” she explained. “It’s just a big old mess.”
more:Meet the Southeast Iowa teen who battled COVID on the frontline and earned the title of Citizen Researcher 2022
Rosales told The Hawk Eye that she has no qualms about the possibility that she will have to shave her head on Saturday.
“It’s the most extreme thing I’m going to do to prove how much these animals need this,” she said. “And if I can go that far, I feel others can give a little more.”
Brad Vidmar covers public safety and education for The Hawk Eye and can be reached via email at [email protected]