Episode
028: Fix Before You Feed with Julie Jacobson
- Podcast
- United We Spay
- Published
- Mar 5, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1717
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
In this episode of United We Spay , host Stacy LeBaron talks with Julie Jacobson, founder of Spay Tennessee and a longtime advocate for prevention-focused animal welfare. Julie shares how her journey began in a small Tennessee county with no veterinarian, no shelter, and no animal control—and how that experience led her to shift from rescue work to a strategy centered on spay and neuter. Over time, Julie helped dramatically reduce the number of unwanted litters in her community and expanded her work statewide, building a network that connects spay-neuter clinics, assistance programs, and funding opportunities across Tennessee. She explains why fixing owned pets—and ideally every pet in a household—is one of the most effective ways to reduce overpopulation , and how many impactful programs can be coordinated from a desk through smart partnerships, grant writing, and community outreach. Julie also discusses the challenges facing spay-neuter efforts today, including veterinary shortages, shifting funding priorities, and the importance of sustainable programs. Her practical insights offer a roadmap for communities looking to create lasting change through prevention. In this episode you will hear: Why prevention—not rescue—is the real long-term solution to pet overpopulation The surprising power of fixing all pets in a household instead of just one How Julie helped reduce puppy litters in her community from 100 per year to just a handful Practical steps to start a spay-neuter assistance program in your county Grant-writing tips that dramatically increase funding success Why many effective spay-neuter programs can be run from a desk instead of the road The growing impact of veterinary shortages on spay-neuter access Smart strategies for sustainable funding, estate gifts, and…