028: Fix Before You Feed with Julie Jacobson

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 donor awareness