One person can make a difference. And sometimes, it really does take a village. Julie Jacobson proves both are true.
When Julie retired from the Air Force in 2002, she adopted a dog, Kalamity Jane. That simple act of love set off a lifelong chain reaction. Photographing Kalamity Jane became a daily joy, which led to photographing pets and foster animals for Friends of Animals in Jackson, Tennessee, in 2004. Six months later, Julie was leading the all-volunteer group with a new focus centered on spaying/neutering every pet in the community.
Why the change? Because preventing births is far more effective than trying to place an endless stream of unwanted animals into a finite number of homes. In her recent United Spay Alliance blog, Alter Before Adoption, Julie identified spaying and neutering every shelter cat and dog as the kinder, more humane, proactive way to control pet populations.
Julie’s “let’s get it done” mindset drives her tailored, one-on-one approach to altering every pet in Jackson County. If a household has multiple unaltered pets, she devises a plan to fix them all for less than what it would cost to alter one. Instead of $600 for five dogs at $120 each, the program might subsidize the surgeries, reducing the total cost to $100 for five dogs. That’s Julie’s version of “spay-neuter math”: meet people where they are, remove barriers, and solve the problem.
Still leading Friends of Animals, Julie broadened her scope beyond Jackson County. In 2010, she founded Spay Tennessee, which to date, has helped establish assistance programs in 93 of the state’s 95 counties. The mission is simple: ensure affordable, accessible spay/neuter services statewide. Julie happily shares her expertise and offers guidance to novice advocates across the state, from bustling Nashville (population 689,447) to tiny Cottage Grove (population 66).
The Spay Tennessee website is a one-stop hub, housing an up-to-date directory of every program in the state (including the new low-cost Critter Fixers clinic in Robertson County), the top 10 reasons why spaying/neutering all pets is paramount to lowering skyrocketing shelter euthanasia rates, and resources for starting an assistance program. Although the simple-to-navigate site is unique to Tennessee, it could serve as a template for other states — making spay-neuter programs easy to locate across the U.S.
Spay Tennessee helps new programs take root and grow. The organization offers a step-by-step startup checklist that walks future program builders through the process of laying a solid foundation: from setting up a nonprofit and choosing a name to building a dedicated board, crafting a mission statement that inspires, and learning the ins and outs of fundraising and grant writing, including opportunities for matching funds. Securing Adequate funding is the key to the success of any spay/neuter assistance program, including stand-alone clinics, discounted voucher programs, and every assistance program in between.
Regular communication keeps the Spay Tennessee volunteer network strong. Monthly Zoom calls connect advocates, allowing them to share resources, spark ideas, and launch programs. In-person luncheons — started in 2006 — still occur every month. The seven to nine county program leaders meet in Cookeville, Tennessee, where they foster friendships, swap ideas, and offer hands-on help. Need cans for recycling? Attendees bring bags full. Planning a yard sale? They show up with a myriad of donations.
Julie Jacobson’s journey proves that one person’s determination can move an entire state into action—improving the lives of countless animals and the people who care for them.
United Spay Alliance is proud to have Julie Jacobsen and Spay Tennessee in our State Leader Network.