When I got the call on that early December morning that our local spay/neuter clinic was closing, I could hear panic on the other end of the line. 

This was the only facility in the area equipped to do low-cost spay and neuter services. Where would they go? What would they do? What about the community? The rescuers? What about all of the people with appointments who couldn’t afford to see a full-service veterinarian? What would this mean for our community, our families, our animals? I knew the immediate and future impact of this closing would be tremendous. And, having even a limited understanding of what this community looked like 15 years ago before we had a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, I knew we couldn’t go back to those days of high euthanasia rates and limited resources.

Problem solving has always been a passion of mine. For better or worse, I find satisfaction in turning chaos into order, panic into excitement and positive motivation. Helping people and animals is at the core of who I am, and I am not alone. So, when I found out the clinic was closing, I got to work making calls to find a path forward and was beyond encouraged by the dedicated group of individuals ready to tackle this challenge alongside me. 

When we met to discuss planning later that week, the room was filled with representatives from at least five different nonprofit animal advocacy groups. Many of these individuals would later become board members, employees, fundraisers, and champions for our cause. 

A team of truly amazing individuals came together in a way that was nothing short of miraculous; Major Mike’s was born. 

I don’t believe it was ever any of our dreams as individuals to reopen a low-cost spay and neuter facility, but we absolutely knew the area had to have one and that we were all going to do whatever it took to make sure that happened. By February we had the business plan, the funding, the facility, a pathway to securing the equipment, and were well on our way to retaining most of the staff. Our community’s response turned panic into purpose and ensured that our mission to help animals and support families could continue stronger than ever. 

We have experienced our fair share of hiccups since reopening, but the animals and families that have been helped make every single minute worth it. In just our first year of operation, we performed 4,500 surgeries, with more than 1,000 of those animals/families receiving a subsidy or discounted rate for their procedure.

As a nonprofit, we keep our rates as low as possible, maintaining that this is a service to the community and not-for-profit business. We calculate exactly how much it costs us to pay our employees a modest salary, keep the lights on, and try to maintain a minimal safety net; the final rate needed to make that possible is what we charge. However, we understand that $90 (male cats) to $130 (female dogs) can still be expensive for some, and we do everything in our power to make this service available to everyone. Through fundraising and grant writing, we are able to secure funds that allow us to reduce the cost of surgeries to those who cannot afford the full cost, often bringing the financial impact on the customer down to $35 per animal. 

We’ve made life-giving strides for the animals and animal owners in our community to date, but this is not where the story ends. Our incredible veterinarians, veterinary technicians, surgical staff, and recovery personnel all care passionately about these animals. They understand that this might be the only time that some of these animals are able to get the quality care they deserve and do everything in their power to show them love and respect. This process starts with including a full examination from the veterinarian, rabies shots, gentle teeth cleaning, ear cleaning, and so much more. The staff go out of their way to correct anything they can while the animal is already in surgery, such as umbilical hernias and wound cleaning. They truly treat these animals as if they are their own and I couldn’t be more proud of the team that we have. 

Major Mike’s has changed my life. 

Serving alongside so many beautiful individuals who view themselves as conduits to the betterment of the health and happiness of animals and their owners in the Upper Cumberland is a joy I can’t begin to adequately share in this brief article. 

For those looking to get involved, we are not a traditional high-volume spay and neuter clinic, but rather a service to the community for those who cannot afford a full-service veterinarian. To help reduce costs for the community, we actively involve volunteers in our efforts while maintaining our commitment to quality.

If you or someone you know is interested in donating to the cause or joining our team in the continued support of Major Mike’s, please visit https://major-mikes.com/ to learn more. 

– by Andrew Buckner, photos by Olivia Merritt