A cat haven in Pittsboro - The Goathouse Refuge

The Goathouse Refuge is another rescue group that has been joining us at Spring Fling for several years now and we are pleased to have them attending again this year! Their Spring Fling regular Julie, says that she loves the event and always enjoys seeing all the different non-profit groups and vendors, and of course, all the dogs!

Though the name brings farm animals to mind, Goathouse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill animal sanctuary that is "dedicated to providing cage-free care for cats regardless of age, medical issues or disposition until a permanent loving adoptive home can be found." For those who may not be suited to life in a typical home, whether because of medical issues or feral cats who prefer to stick to their wild ways, Goathouse is their permanent home where they can live as they please and be loved and cared for just the way they are.

Founder, Siglinda Scarpa, established The Goathouse Refuge in 2006 and continues to be an avid supporter. You can see her pottery and other work in a gallery at the refuge. Additionally, they sell coffee and all proceeds go towards care of the cats!

As of 2022, The Goathouse Refuge is shifting their focus to bring attention and aid to several groups of cats that are more underserved and traditionally overlooked; those who are older, or semi-feral, or who have special needs. These cats do get adopted but much less frequently than young cats who are "easy" to care for. As a result, this population ranks among the highest portions of euthanized cats in our nations shelters.

"Consider the cats who have been faithful beloved companions for many years, only to be put out in the street or taken to a kill shelter when their humans can no longer care for them. Our goal will be to bring public awareness and sympathy to this group of cats, so that these animals receive the dignity and respect they have always deserved and so often have not received. We hope that this new focus as a place of last resort will change the discourse about and treatment of our elderly feline companions."

Of course, all the cats that currently call Goathouse home, even outside the populations of their new focus, will continue to live there and be cared for until they find an adoptive home. So if you are looking for a cat or two to complete your family, check out the cats at The Goathouse Refuge! You can stop by in person on Fridays by appointment, and Saturday & Sunday from 11:00am to 3:00pm.

Check them out on on their website, Facebook, and Instagram!

Doxie by Proxy - short on legs, long on moxie!

Doxie by Proxy is another one of our returning rescues for Spring Fling! They love meeting so many great people there and have found some amazing fosters and adopters!

This Dachshund rescue group formed in 2019 from a love of rescuing and of Dachshunds. The volunteers with Doxie by Proxy have over 50 years combined experience with rescue work and focus their efforts on dogs in North Carolina. Once a dog is taken in, they are a part of Doxie by Proxy for life! That means that no matter what, that dog has a place with them if they need it. They prioritize helping dogs in shelters since they are at the highest risk, but will also accept owner surrenders if they have foster homes available.

Whenever possible, Doxie by Proxy tries to help owners work through the issues that are leading them to surrender their pet. They have plenty of experience to draw on and encourage people to reach out to a trainer when needed.

Stop by their booth and say hello! You can keep up with Doxie by Proxy on their website and their social media channels, Facebook and Instagram.

Love Mutts Rescue loves all pets!

Welcome Love Mutts Rescue again this year! Love Mutts has joined us many years for Spring Fling as well as held adoption events at some of our stores over the years. Being a long-time Spring Fling attendee, Marli, the founder of Love Mutts says that she loves the Easter Egg Hunt and seeing so many people and organizations, especially since that means new people get to know Love Mutts!

Love Mutts Rescue is a non-breed-specific dog rescue operating in central North Carolina and south central Virginia, operating since June of 2006. They are a volunteer based group that work hard to rescue dogs that come from all backgrounds. They have helped all kinds of animals since they started, including 7,500 dogs, 500 cats, 2 horses, 3 100lb pigs, and a few rabbits and guinea pigs. That's quite a list! Love Mutts pulls dogs from shelters whenever they have foster space available and will also accept dogs when the person who found them or the owner, can keep them in their home and act as a foster parent. Their rescue motto is "It Matters to this One", a reference to the Starfish story, as they work to save as many dogs as they can.

Once a dog joins the rescue, they provide them with appropriate medical care, and place them in foster homes where they can be loved and nourished while they await their forever home. Their goal is to help all dogs that come into the rescue and find the families that are destined to be theirs.

Meet one of their current adoptable dogs, Beckham. This handsome guy has been with Love Mutts for quite a while, in fact, he's the dog that's been with them the longest! At 55lbs, he isn't too big or too small, he's just right. He is described as an active guy, who would be a great hiking companion. If you're more into hanging around the house, Beckham would love to hang out next to you on the couch, on his own bed, or just by your side, no matter where you are. He is house trained and crate trained as well.

Beckham has lots of dog friends and is good with most dogs, given proper introductions are done. He does best meeting other dogs in a controlled environment like a fenced yard, events can be hard for him because of the extra activity. He has had lots of training and has learned to check in with his handler when he gets stressed. Beckham is currently in boarding and his adoption includes "lessons" with his current trainer. This guy just celebrated his second birthday, help Beckham find his perfect match so that he gets to spend all the rest of his birthdays with his fur-ever family! If you can't adopt, you can share his Petfinder profile or make a donation to Love Mutts to help Beckham and all the other pets in the care of Love Mutts.

Follow Love Mutts on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to keep up to date with their events and adoptable pets!