Goathouse News
Goathouse Refuge Open By Appointment
Posted May 10, 2021
The Goathouse Refuge is currently open by weekend appointment and masks are required.
*You can schedule an appointment here: https://calendly.com/goathouserefuge
If you cannot make an appointment, please cancel it through calendy so that spaces can open up for other guests.
*For questions email: goathouserefugeoffice@gmail.com and please allow 24 hrs for a reply.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Goathouse $11,000 Matching Gift Campaign Reaches 70%
Posted May 09, 2021
Wow! The matching gift campaign has already reached 70%! Several amazing donors have stepped up to do a matching gift, matching dollar for dollar all the way up to $11,000!
This challenge will go a long way to help with food, spay/neuter costs, vet bills, cleaning supplies, and other expenses. Help us reach the goal before the May 31st deadline by donating today by clicking on the donate button to the left.
We appreciate your generosity and any gift from $5 to $1,000 will help us tremendously to carry on our mission to care for cats that may have no where else to go.
Do You Know the Mission of the Goathouse Refuge?
Posted March 11, 2021
Donors, supporters, friends, many of you have not gone through all the information on our website, we would like you to know what is in our Mission Statement, who we are, why we do what we do… because you like us, love what we do and trust us but maybe you have never read it… so Here it is:………
“There aren’t many places in today’s world that offer ongoing, unconditional care to animals in need, but that’s exactly what we provide at the Goathouse Refuge. We are a cat sanctuary, a place where cats that have been abandoned or lost can be safe and warm and happy, where cats who have had to live at the margins of the modern world can find a place where they are welcome.
The Refuge is a place where no cat will be refused due to age, illness or disposition. Even cats that are “unadoptable” can live in comfort, with the care, attention and love they deserve. The sanctuary also accepts FIV+ cats and is devoted to their care like any of the other residents and no cat will be euthanized unless it is suffering and there is no hope of recovery.
Our ultimate goal is to connect every cat with a loving family who wants to share their life with a wonderful feline companion. Typically, 25 – 30 cats are adopted every month from our facility, and since we keep all of our cats up to date on their vaccinations and check-ups and make sure they lead interactive, social lives, adoptions from Goathouse Refuge are easy and effective. Since our founding in 2007, we’ve placed over 2,500 cats into loving, permanent homes. Unfortunately, not every cat is destined to be a typical pet. Some have medical issues that require daily care; some grew up as feral cats and don’t have the disposition for domestic life; and sometimes, there just aren’t enough homes to go around. But Siglinda Scarpa, who founded Goathouse Refuge years ago, believes every cat has the right to a life free from both danger and indifference.
The Refuge is designed so that cats can spend long periods of time here comfortably, awaiting adoption. In fact, it is designed so that a cat could spend years, or even its entire lifetime, at the sanctuary. This means that cages are only used in intake when a new cat arrives and needs to adjust and feel safe, or in the infirmary to be able to medicate and care for ill kitties, or for feeding cats with special diets (but only for feeding and then the cats will be free to roam and play around with the other cats in the refuge indoor and outdoor safely). We only spay and neuter kittens once they weigh 5 pounds, to insure that their organs and their bones are well grown and well-formed and they have strong teeth. They are adopted after they have been spayed/neutered, fully vaccinated and microchipped. Old cats get their dental surgeries… injured or sick kitties will go to our veterinarians and/or specialty hospitals including the Vet School… and Homeopathic/Alternative Veterinarians. And, of course, all of the cats are given human attention, love and interaction, along with high-quality food and prescription food if needed.
This is the philosophy we operate by at Goathouse Refuge, a no-kill shelter that serves two important roles: a stopover for cats on their way to permanent homes, and a permanent shelter for cats that just need a place they can call their own.
That’s what we do at Goathouse Refuge. We think it’s worthwhile work. We hope you think so, too.”
Winter Heating Bill Assistance Still Needed
Posted March 10, 2021
The last couple of nights have been the coldest of the year here so far in our part of North Carolina with more winter weather ahead. Outside in the bitterly cold wind, I wondered about the wild, lost and stray animals burrowed away trying to stay warm.
The buildings at the Goathouse, from the main refuge to intake, the kitten cabana, and the infirmary, keep the cats safe and warm in the winter months. To keep them warm in the hills of rural Chatham County, we rely upon propane to heat the facilities. The propane gas bills are always head-shakingly high in cold winter days just as our fundraising takes a first of year dip.
CARES Act Incentives Extended for 2021 — with a small boost!
Posted January 13, 2021
The C.A.R.E.S. Act of 2020 has been extended for 2021!
Allowable deductions for donations made by December 31st, 2021 to qualified charitable organizations- including The Goathouse Refuge! – have been greatly expanded. Here’s what you need to know to take advantage of this opportunity:
Do you take the standard deduction?
The CARES Act applies a temporary universal charitable deduction for all taxpayers of up to $300. Ninety-two percent of taxpayers take a standard deduction rather than itemizing their charitable giving—under the new provision, taxpayers who do not itemize can now directly benefit from their charitable cash donations of up to $300.
Are you itemizing deductions?
The adjusted gross income (AGI) limit for cash contributions was increased for individual donors. For cash contributions made in 2021, you can now elect to deduct up to 100% of your AGI (increased from 60%). The qualifying deduction can be cash, in kind, or appreciated stock.
Charitable Transfer of Stock Gains
For those with significant stock market gains, this year’s C.A.R.E.S. Act tax break can be an especially valuable opportunity. Transferring the stock directly to The Goathouse Refuge allows our charity to enjoy the full appreciated value of the stock and the taxpayer may deduct the full value of the donated stock (and offset equivalent income) without paying the capital gains tax they would otherwise owe on the appreciated value upon the sale of the stock. Making donations of appreciated stock is easy! Simply have your broker transfer the shares of stock to:
Edward Jones DTC # 0057
Goathouse Refuge Account # 35723358-1-2
Goathouse Refuge Tax ID # 26-0893521
What about IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD)?
The QCD allows individuals over 70 ½ years old to donate up to $100,000 in IRA assets directly to charity annually, without taking the distribution into taxable income. While the C.A.R.E.S. Act did not change the rules around the QCD, remember that under the C.A.R.E.S. Act an individual can elect to deduct 100% of their AGI for cash charitable contributions. This effectively affords all individuals over 59 ½ years old the benefits similar to a QCD; they can take a cash distribution from their IRA, contribute the cash to charity and may completely offset tax attributable to the distribution by taking a charitable deduction in an amount up to 100% of their AGI for the tax year.
Alas, all of the above opportunities are available only for donations made by December 31, 2021. Be sure to speak to your accountant or tax advisor now to maximize your charitable donations to The Goathouse Refuge or the charity of your choice!
