A Triangle-area rescue for cats hopes it has nine lives after the state announced plans to shut down the shelter following a series of inspections late last year.
The Goathouse Refuge, in Chatham County, is a no-kill cat sanctuary. It's been around more than two decades, but the agency's future is in limbo.
Other WRAL Top Stories
Siglinda Scarpa, 85, founded the The Goathouse Refuge. She is still the owner and operator of the shelter.
"We take excellent care of our cats," Scarpa said. "That's why we have cats that are 24 years old."
Scarpa said it's a never-ending battle to keep up with the animals she loves.
"People are dumping their animals because they lose their house, lose their job," she said. "It's absolutely heartbreaking. I would take all of these animals if I could, but I can't."
Featured in "The New York Times" and on the "Today" show and local news outlets, Scarpa is now fighting for survival.
"It makes me feel the world is a very cruel place," Scarpa said after receiving notice the state suspended the rescue's license just days before Christmas.
The letter from the Division of Animal Services ordered the shelter to immediately cease and desist operations, other than finding new homes for the shelter cats. The state initially gave Scarpa 30 days to rehome the animals, but has since delayed that deadline as the shelter works to come into compliance.
"I hope that we can resolve this very fast," Scarpa said.
Scarpa filed an initial written appeal, but a court date has not yet set for the hearing. She hopes the issue can be resolved before then.
The license suspension came after inspections over the last four months of 2025. The shelter was also fined $9,300, the second-largest fine issued against a shelter last year.
While Scarpa admits to some of the violations, mostly record keeping and building improvements, she feels the decision to revoke the license was more personal.
"The inspector decided she had to punish us because I didn't let her in the house," Scarpa said.
The inspection report says she admitted cats were staying in her house, which is on the same property, but then wouldn't let the inspector inside to observe the animals. Scarpa was adamant she wasn't trying to hide anything at the time and says she gave the inspectors the name of the cats in question and their veterinarian to look at medical records. Scarpa, who at the time was recovering from heart surgery, says the moved the cats to her house, she could take care of their medical needs without having to walk to the shelter as she regained her strength from surgery.
However, when inspectors came back, the report says Scarpa claimed two cats were inside, but they actually found 15 to 20, along with her personal cats.
Some of the specific violations of the Animal Welfare Act cited in the inspections:
*Records were missing or incomplete for several cats- including one instance where staff members admitted to falsifying records.
*Repeat violations for too many surfaces that couldn't be properly sanitized-
*Primary enclosures and exercise areas in disrepair.
Scarpa admits her own health struggles and a lack of funding have made it harder, but she's doing the best she can. Scarpa pointed to two now-former employees who were running the shelter when she wasn't able to for health reasons.
However, WRAL Investigates found inspections dating back 15 years that highlighted many of the same problems. This is the first time the state has tried to pull the facility's license.
Scarpa says a corrective action plan is well underway. "Each cat has its own folder with all the records, all the certificates, rabies certificate and everything else," she told WRAL Investigates.
The Goathouse Refuge has two community volunteer days later this month, with food, money, supplies and volunteers provided by local businesses.
Scarpa hopes they can get enough done to satisfy inspectors so she can continue fighting for what she loves.
"I worked for people and now I'm working for animals, because they're better than people, generally," she said.