‘It’s time we do something’: Spike calls for legislative action on spay-neuter costs after 80 cats overwhelm Tacoma shelters
Aug 17, 2026, 1:47 PM
The Tacoma area’s cat population made national headlines last week after 61 cats were rescued from an abandoned sailboat off Owen Beach near Point Defiance Park and another 20 were found inside a stolen vehicle. The Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County is now at capacity with roughly 190 cats in the shelter and even more in foster care.
Spike O’Neill, co-host of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, said the situation was preventable and called on state lawmakers to make spay-neuter services more affordable.
Spike traces the crisis back to one cat and a litter of six
Spike said the boat’s owner was given a cat that had a litter several years ago. He could afford to spay or neuter a couple of them, but the rest were left intact, and the population spiraled from there.
“The ones he couldn’t just started doing what cats do,” Spike said. “The two things he did with his limited job opportunities were pay the insurance on the boat and buy pet food for his pets.”
Conditions aboard the vessel were so severe that rescuers wore hazmat suits to retrieve the animals. Days later, another 20 cats turned up in a stolen car, pushing the total to more than 80 in a single week.
“Pierce County Animal Rescue and Tacoma Humane Society are now required to offer care to 80 cats in the Tacoma area,” Spike said. “They’re at capacity.”
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Spike says it’s time for WA Legislature to step in
Spike said the average cost to spay or neuter a pet in Washington runs between $125 and $175, a price many pet owners cannot absorb as the cost of living continues to climb.
“It’s about time we do something from a legislative perspective on making it more accessible for folks who want to be pet owners,” Spike said. “Pets add so much to your life. I can’t imagine life without our dog.”
KIRO producer Laura Scott encouraged listeners to donate to or adopt from the Tacoma Humane Society, noting the shelter is stretched thin but still finding space.
“This would be a great time to donate to the Tacoma Humane Society if you want,” Laura said. “Maybe you can relieve some of the strain on the system. I can’t recommend getting a cat or a dog enough.”
Watch the full discussion in the video above.
Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3
