The Flathead Spay and Neuter Task Force in Columbia Falls was the first nonprofit spay and neuter clinic founded in Montana. It started in 1998 to provide low-income pet owners with low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for pets or feral cats. The group covers a five-county area. 

Since its beginning over 20 years ago, the Task Force has altered 56,804 pets. 

In 2024, the Task Force spayed or neutered a total of 2,367 pets -- 1,845 cats and 522 dogs. Last year, they performed 2,384 spay and neuter surgeries. 

Executive Director Mimi Beadles said the mission is to stop the pet overpopulation problem. The best way to do that is to “turn off the faucet,” or spay and neuter.  

One unspayed cat can have three litters per year, each averaging four to six kittens. If one cat and her offspring continue to reproduce at that rate for 10 years, the result is well over a million cats. 

The dog overpopulation problem is evidenced by the number of full shelters across the nation and by the fact that nearly 360,000 dogs were euthanized in the United States in 2023, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.  

The second part of the solution is for people to stop breeding pets, Beadles said. 

“If you bought your dog from a breeder, you can’t come here,” Beadles said of the Spay and Neuter Task Force. “This is not a sale. The whole clinic is designed for low-income pet owners.” 

Some people inquiring about the Task Force’s services have told Beadles they spent $1,000 on a pet and cannot afford to see a veterinarian. 

“Everybody does not need to be a breeder,” Beadles said. “Just because you paid $1,000 for your puppy, do not become a breeder.”  

The recent popularity of doodle-type and other fashion breeds are accelerating the problem, she said. 

“The bottom line of all of this is adopt, do not buy,” she added. “Both shelters always have phenomenal dogs and cats.” 

The Task Force operates on a yearly budget of $175,000. Beadles says this is possible because they are “extremely fiscally responsible.” The four-person board takes care of donor dollars so surgeries can be provided at cost. 

The volunteer staff work thousands of hours each year. Only the veterinarians and vet techs are paid. 

Dr. Kristen Hollemans performed all the cat surgeries at the Task Force in 2024. The dogs saw Dr. Meg Gordon and lead dog veterinarian, Dr. Heather McEvoy. All three doctors work full-time jobs in addition to the time they spend at the Spay and Neuter Task Force.  

“They see the vision,” Beadles said of the veterinarians. “There is a vision here and they’re very passionate about ending pet overpopulation.” 

Although the Task Force is primarily a surgical clinic, it cares for pets in other ways, too. In April, the nonprofit took in 65 cats from a trailer in Woods Bay. All were black and white, so the crew at the Task Force calls them the cow kitties. About 20 are still available for adoption. 

Beadles’ team also distributed about 15,000 pounds of food through North Valley Food Bank and Columbia Falls Food Bank. The food was donated by Costco and Walmart 

“This is what a little, tiny nonprofit can do,” she said. “You just have to have the compassion and the passion and follow what you think is the right thing to do.” 

For information visit flatheadspayneuter.org