Mimi Beadles discovered this area through a summer job in Glacier National Park. Her love of animals prompted her to open what has developed into the Flathead Spay and Neuter Task Force.

In addition to operating a cat adoption center and generally looking out for the welfare of cats and dogs, the Task Force spays and neuters approximately 3,000 animals per year. Except for the actual surgery, everything is done by a group of avid volunteers who log up to 5,000 hours per year.

Dr. Terry Yunker, formerly of this area, but who has moved out of state and confines his practice to spay and neuter, flies in for each clinic at a reduced rate because he still feels this is his community, and he wants to participate in the good work of the Task Force.

Mimi donates countless hours to the project because, in her words, "It's a labor of love, and we know we make the biggest difference for the welfare of the cat and dog population."

She speaks glowingly of the sterile conditions, professionalism and care of their clinics, and points with pride to the fact that, while keeping the population under control, the euthanization rate of 50-60 percent has been reduced to 12 percent.

As an example of the group spirit, she refers to the recent incident involving the case of 41 maltreated dogs. The word went out, and "the whole gang," including Dr. Yunker, showed up on the Fourth of July and spayed or neutered 21 dogs and cleaned groomed and loved them all.

Mimi, we can't thank you and your group enough, but we want you to know that our community appreciates what you do.

This column is dedicated to those who give freely of their time and energy to worthwhile community projects, but whose efforts often go unnoticed. If you know such a person, please e-mail [email protected].