Our Story
At PopFix, we focus on one thing: breaking the cycle of stray animal overpopulation in North Mississippi. We don’t run a shelter, and we don’t take in owned pets. Instead, we provide practical, community-based solutions where they’re needed most, reaching animals that are too often overlooked.
PopFix is a community-driven nonprofit dedicated to proactive solutions like spaying and neutering to prevent overpopulation before it starts. By working alongside local veterinarians, volunteers, and animal advocates, we create sustainable change that supports both animals and the people who care for them.
When intervention is needed, we partner with community members to foster animals, guide them through adoption, and ensure they are placed in safe, loving homes.
Our vision is simple: a future where every pet has a chance. Through prevention, collaboration, and compassion, we’re working to make that future a reality.
The Board
Kayla Utley
Kayla, a proud resident of Verona, MS, is one of the founding board members of PopFix. With a heart for animals that stretches back as far as she can remember, Kayla has always been the kind of person who steps in to help when help is needed.
She grew up in Mooreville, MS, where she attended school before building a career at Cadence Arena. There, she has spent years making sure community events come together seamlessly, a reflection of her gift for organization and her commitment to bringing people together.
At home, Kayla is married to the love of her life, and together they are raising a daughter who is quickly learning what service looks like through her mother’s example. For Kayla, rescuing isn’t just a calling, it is a family tradition. She turns acts of kindness into teachable moments, showing her daughter that compassion has the power to change lives.
Carol Porter
Carol Porter is a long-time resident of North Mississippi, having lived in Monroe County for most of her life. She became a founding board member of PopFix in November 2024, but her advocacy for animals began long before then. Caring for animals has been a lifelong commitment for Carol; she has always opened her heart and home to the helpless whenever she could, putting service to others above herself.
Carol has a special love for large breed dogs and shares her life with two devoted companions, Browzer and Duke. Her dedication to them reflects her broader mission: to ensure that every animal receives compassion, care, and the chance for a better life.
Outside of her volunteer work, Carol is a licensed massage therapist who serves the residents of North Mississippi from her practice in Okolona. Whether through her professional work or her role at PopFix, Carol brings a spirit of service, compassion, and healing to all that she does.
Michael Dozier
Michael is the founder and director of PopFix. A lifelong animal lover and environmentalist, Michael has combined his passion for helping animals with his background in public service to build an organization focused on practical solutions: spay and neuter programs, fostering, adoption support, and community outreach.
Michael believes that every pet deserves safety, compassion, and a chance at a better life. He works tirelessly to connect abandoned cats and dogs with the resources and care they need, while also empowering the community to be part of the solution.
When he’s not leading PopFix initiatives, Michael enjoys beekeeping, spending time outdoors, and caring for his own pets, who continue to inspire his mission every day.
Vision
To build a future where every pet has access to care, every community is free from the challenges of overpopulation, and every animal is given the opportunity to thrive. Through education, collaboration, and action, we aim to create healthier communities for both animals and people.
Mission
Our mission is to reduce the stray and homeless pet population in North Mississippi by connecting people and animals in need with accessible, affordable spay and neuter services.
Values
At PopFix, our values shape everything we do. We believe in innovation to find creative ways to reduce overpopulation, community to achieve lasting change together, integrity through honesty and transparency, empathy for every person and animal we help, and responsibility in promoting humane, effective solutions.
Together, change is possible
Mississippi faces one of the highest rates of stray animal overpopulation in the nation, with thousands of pets entering overcrowded shelters each year. By coming together as a community, we can tackle this challenge, prevent unwanted litters, and give stray animals a second chance. Every effort, big or small, brings us closer to a healthier, more compassionate Mississippi.