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United We SpayAuthor: Stacy LeBaron
Welcome to United We Spay - the show dedicated to promoting affordable spay/neuter services across the USA and beyond. In each episode, we delve into the heart of a movement that's changing the lives of animals and communities for the better. Our mission is clear: build awareness, educate, and empower. In this podcast, we'll explore the inspiring stories and voices that drive the spay/neuter movement, all while keeping our eyes on the bigger picture. Hosted by Stacy LeBaron, our team at United Spay Alliance is here to make a difference by tackling the root causes of overpopulation, ensuring that every animal has the chance for a better life. Join us as we embark on a journey to address the problems and pain points faced by grassroots rescue and shelter workers, and the general public. We'll answer the three most common questions we receive, discuss the challenges of finding low-cost spay/neuter services, and explore strategies for recruiting more veterinarians to support these crucial efforts. What truly irks us is when the animal welfare space fixates on the symptoms of overpopulation, rather than focusing on prevention through spay/neuter. We believe it's time to change the conversation. Moreover, it breaks our hearts to witness the animal welfare landscape taking steps backward, reverting to a time before the spay/neuter movement's progress. We're committed to ensuring that history does not repeat itself. The problem we aim to solve is clear: there are too few people with access to affordable spay/neuter services, leading to unwanted litters, overcrowded shelters, and other avoidable consequences. Our podcast seeks to be a platform for solutions, education, and empowerment. We're honored to serve our best stakeholders, the dedicated individuals actively involved in grassroots rescue and shelter work. We understand that the general public often remains unaware of the scale and impact of the current veterinary shortage, as well as the challenges in finding affordab Language: en Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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028: Fix Before You Feed with Julie Jacobson
Episode 28
Thursday, 5 March, 2026
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 Why transport programs should include spay-neuter accountability for source communities Resources from this episode: Spay Tennessee – https://spaytennessee.org Spay Tennessee Facebook – https://facebook.com/spaytennessee United Spay Alliance – https://unitedspayalliance.org Contact Julie Jacobson – spayzilla@yahoo.com
