028: Fix Before You Feed with Julie Jacobson

About this episode

Julie Jacobson discusses her journey in animal welfare and the importance of spay-neuter programs to combat pet overpopulation.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Stacy LeBaron

Guest: Julie Jacobson

Topics covered

• animal welfare
• spay and neuter
• overpopulation
• community outreach
• veterinary challenges

Keywords

• spay
• neuter
• animal welfare
• overpopulation
• Tennessee
• community programs
• veterinary shortages

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Spay Tennessee

Places: Tennessee, Tennessee

More episodes of United We Spay

• Fix the Future with Cathy Bissell · April 2, 2026 · 41 min
• Scaling Spay Neuter Through Strategy, Data, and Humor with Deborah Cribbs · February 5, 2026 · 37 min
• 026: Full Circle TNR: Building Sustainable, Community-Led Cat Care with Adelle Louise · January 1, 2026 · 31 min
• 025: Behind the Mic with Stacy LeBaron on Cats, Clinics, and Burnout · December 4, 2025 · 39 min
• 024: Confronting the Vet Shortage with Cheri Storms · November 6, 2025 · 25 min
• 023: Revolutionizing Veterinary Care: Dr. Michelle Gonzalez and the Rascal Unit · October 2, 2025 · 30 min