‘Fixing’ thousands of Tri-Cities pets eased burden on animal shelter, rescues
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- POPP performed 3,300 low-cost spay and neuter surgeries in 2025.
- Clinic helps reduce overpopulation of dogs and feral cats in the Tri-Cities region.
- Discounted programs serve shelters, animal rescues and trap‑and‑release groups.
Pet Overpopulation Prevention performed 3,300 low-cost spay and neuter surgeries in the Tri-Cities last year.
The organization said that breaks down to 1,923 spay surgeries and 1,366 neuter surgeries.
“...(It) speaks volumes about the dedication of the Pet Overpopulation Prevention clinic. POPP’s work is saving lives, reducing overpopulation, and creating a brighter future for pets across our community,” said Rik Mikals, POPP’s board president.
The group has a discounted program for shelters, rescues, and trap-and-release groups. They also work with low-income residents to provide a much less costly option than most veterinarian offices.
Neutering and spaying dogs starts at $165 and changes based on the dog’s gender and size. Spaying a cat costs $150, and neutering a cat is $135.
Last year the organization worked with 29 nonprofits.
Trap-Neuter-Release groups work to identify colonies of feral cats, get the adults fixed and potentially pull kittens or certain adult cats to fosters and shelters. These cats are ear-tipped after release to help volunteers easily identify cats who have already been taken care of.
Of the cats spayed or neutered last year, 593 were feral.
A feral cat can have up to four litters in a year, so being able to spay or neuter them prevents the stray population from growing. The nonprofit said 302 of those feral cats were kittens and nearly all of them were adopted.
Treasurer Teresa Isaacson said that individuals can also trap and bring in feral cats from their neighborhoods.
Typically, those cats are released back into the same neighborhood, and the person who brought them in could qualify for financial help to pay for the surgeries through grants and donations.
“POPP is all about addressing the important issue of pet overpopulation, and we know that the primary way to do that is through spay/neuter. The progress we’ve made in 2025 supports our goal to continue to reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs in our community,” said Carol Macinnis, POPP’s cat foster and adoptions coordinator.
“This is a community problem, not just a pet problem. There are limited resources for caring for the many children born each year who need homes. The strain on our local shelter and rescues is significant and growing as our community grows.”
POPP has served the Tri-Cities since 1995. Their spay and neuter clinic is at 1506 N. Road 40 in Pasco.
For more information about the clinic and donating, adopting, fostering or volunteering, visit POPPTricities.org
