We all know the truth, the sad reality, that there are so many more cats and dogs loose in our community than we can ever take care of, even with all of the dedicated and caring shelters and clinics. Our Town’s wonderful animal shelters are always full to the brim, and every day they take in more animals than they can adopt out. They need help, and the animals need help, and fortunately there is a real solution in the form of spaying and neutering.
The commitment to, and the process of, spaying and neutering community animals is an easy one, but it does require attention and follow-through, and then the results are amazing. Enter Fix ‘em KC. This non-profit organization, which is completely run by volunteers, is dedicated to removing the barriers to spaying and neutering. Its vision is: “A compassionate world where every animal has a safe, loving home, achieved through community action, responsible pet ownership, and no-kill practices.” Its mission is: “To reduce the homeless animal population in the Greater Kansas City area by subsidizing spay/neuter surgery for pet parents who cannot afford the cost of surgery, and assisting community cat caretakers and trappers with the costs of spay/neuter for trap, neuter/spay and return.”
At the volunteer helm of the grassroots group are Andrea Knobbe and Britton Hunter, both dedicated and devoted animal lovers who just want to do their part in reducing the surplus animal population. They have built strong partnerships in the community with other organizations, such as Pet Resource Center, Northland Animal Welfare Society, KC Pet Project, HOPE Spay Neuter Clinic, Humane Society of Greater KC, and Feline Fix. These clinics work with Fix ‘em KC to provide fast, accessible, and affordable services.
The reasons why people don’t spay and neuter their pets are as varied as the types of dogs in a shelter. But, cost can be the biggest hurdle, so Andrea and Britton have made it their mission to remove that roadblock as much as possible. The numbers are staggering: there are 2.7 million cats and dogs killed in shelters annually across the nation. And, 87 percent of animals in underserved communities are neither spayed nor neutered. One female dog can give birth to 12-18 puppies per year, and in six years that amounts to 67,000 puppies being born from her and her offspring.
It’s a solvable problem. Fix ‘em KC believes that with the proper education and information, pet owners can become much more savvy about the process and the benefits of spaying/neutering. While the team at Fix ‘em KC raises money to help with the costs, they are also educating the public, and providing transportation and solutions to difficult situations like feral cats and their trapping and releasing.
What can we do to help? Well, the fun answer is to attend and support Paddles For Paws! This pickleball tournament and social will be held on June 27th at The Carriage Club, and includes lots of pickleball, bites and beverages, and a silent auction. Proceeds benefit the work of Fix ‘em KC and the volunteers. Play or attend and watch, either is welcomed. Dogs like Fiona will appreciate your support. For more information, visit fixemkc.org.
Featured in the May 16, 2026 issue of The Independent.
By Anne Potter Russ
