A Look at Goathouse Refuge

I was deeply enchanted recently by an article in the New York Times that featured a compelling story about Italian born, 72-year-old Siglinda Scarpa. Scarpa is a slightly built, gray haired woman barely five feet tall, but she makes up for her tiny stature as an extremely creative artist and potter and a highly impressive feline aficionado.  Scarpa also has the extraordinary gift that she discovered when she was a child that allows her to communicate with animals directly.

As a result of her passion for all living critters and her concern for their welfare, she founded Goathouse Refuge, a remarkable 501(C) (3) non-profit no-kill animal sanctuary in Pittsboro, North Carolina.  While abandoned cats make up the majority of the residents living at the sanctuary, several dogs basking in the sun as well as an adorable bunny hopping happily around the property can almost always be found.

The description of the area in which Scarpa lives and her charming home that she shares with an abundance of kitties was fascinating.  And lucky are the felines and other critters who Ms. Scarpa has rescued. In fact, Ms. Scarpa could easily be described as the “Mother Theresa” for all the animals under her care.

With a staff of five, and the numerous volunteers helping with routine chores, along with the several veterinary technicians and the handful of veterinarians who tend to the 250 cats at a reduced fee who are waiting to be adopted; the sanctuary animals are extremely well cared for.  Most of all these lucky Goathouse Refuge kitties have access to roam freely on an over one acre of fenced in wooded land on her 16 acre property.

According to the sanctuary’s Facebook Page, the Goathouse Refuge’s mission is giving their kitties a cage-free environment, regardless of age, health issues or behavior problems until such time they are adopted into their permanent loving home.  The Refuge provides prudent and compassionate care for their kitties, many of whom had been considered unadoptable. Many of these abandoned cats were fortunately pulled from kill shelters at the eleventh hour by Goathouse Refuge, shortly before they were scheduled for euthanasia.

The cats are housed in a studio building where they enjoy sleeping on quilts on heated floors on the chilly North Carolina winter nights. They can interact with staff, volunteers and the facility visitors within the confines of their secure, roomy fenced-in enclosure.

But unlike the county shelters that must take in any animal that is brought to them, as a no-kill facility Goathouse Refuge has control over the number of animals they can accept so their population is manageable.

To help Goathouse continue the amazing work they are doing for kitties, cast your vote daily for the sanctuary at the Animal Rescue Site Challenge.  Also take a moment to visit Goathouse Refuge's Website for more in-depth information about the sanctuary and how to get involved.

Take a few minutes to watch the video uploaded to YouTube by exoloreUNCTV to meet Scarpa and some of the Sanctuary residents up close and purrsonal.

What are your opinions about no-kill animal shelters? Tell us in a comment.