What does it take to disrupt the cycle of pet overpopulation in America—fast? In this replay from the United Spay Alliance Conference, Cathy Bissell of the Bissell Pet Foundation shares how a bold, scalable idea became one of the nation's fastest-growing spay/neuter initiatives.

"Fix the Future" wasn't born from a long-term strategic plan—it emerged from urgency, collaboration, and a willingness to say yes to a challenge. What started with a single call to action in Puerto Rico quickly evolved into a national model connecting relief veterinarians with shelters and communities in need. The result? Hundreds of thousands of pets receiving critical care—including spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and microchips—often in places where access was previously nonexistent.

In this episode, Cathy breaks down how the program works, from matchmaking veterinarians with host organizations to maintaining high-volume, high-quality standards. She also shares the realities behind the scenes—funding pressures, community resistance, workforce challenges—and the lessons learned while scaling at record speed.

This conversation goes beyond logistics. It's a call to action for shelters, veterinarians, and advocates alike to rethink accessibility, affordability, and collaboration in animal welfare. Because as Cathy emphasizes, without spay/neuter, the system can't keep up.

If you're looking for innovative solutions, real-world impact, and inspiration to take action in your own community—this episode delivers.

In this episode you will hear:

• How "Fix the Future" scaled from one project to 250,000+ pets served

• A practical, replicable model for high-volume spay/neuter programs

• The role of relief veterinarians in expanding access to care

• Real barriers communities face—and how to overcome them

• Why affordability (not just availability) is key to impact

• Lessons from launching clinics in both rural and urban areas

• Funding realities and how to build sustainable programs

• The power of collaboration between shelters, vets, and nonprofits

Resources from this episode:

• United Spay Alliance: https://unitedspayalliance.org

• Bissell Pet Foundation: https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org

• Fix the Future Program Inquiry: Kim.Album@bissell.com

• The Sato Project (Puerto Rico partner): https://thesatoproject.org

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

What happens when a financial professional is entrusted with a transformative philanthropic gift for cats? In this episode of United We Spay, Stacy LeBaron sits down with Deborah Cribbs, founder of the Give Them Ten Movement, to explore how a banker's mindset reshaped feline welfare in Cincinnati and beyond.

Deborah shares how disciplined stewardship, business strategy, and unapologetically bold messaging turned a local foundation into a national force for cats. From launching community cat programs to leveraging data and market research, she explains why spay neuter is not just compassionate. It is the most practical, scalable solution to feline overpopulation.

In this episode you will hear:

• How a fiduciary approach transformed charitable giving into measurable impact
• Why collaboration, not competition, is essential for sustainable shelter systems
• What functional community cat programs actually require to succeed
• The power of branding, humor, and visual storytelling in shifting public behavior
• Why "Fix by Five" is a critical messaging tool for modern feline welfare
• How donor-advised funds and community foundations can unlock local funding
• Why specialization may be the smartest move for smaller organizations
• Early insights into Give Them Ten's new research on the emotional drivers behind spay neuter decisions

Deborah makes a compelling case that data and compassion are not opposites. They are partners.

Her bottom line is simple. If every person who sees a cat takes responsibility to ensure that cat is fixed, the entire landscape changes.

Resources from this episode:

• Website: www.GiveThemTen.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuteredscooter/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/givethemten/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/give-them-ten
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neuteredscooter
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/neuteredscooter/
• Threads: https://www.threads.com/@neuteredscooter
• BlueSky: @neuteredscooter.bsky.social

In this powerful episode of United We Spay, host Stacy LeBaron talks with Adelle Louise—Trap-Neuter-Return specialist, feral cat advocate, and Director of @travelanimalrescue—about what it truly means to build a sustainable, community-led cat care program.

After launching her work in the Global South, Adelle recognized that meaningful impact required more than good intentions: it demanded equipment, training, and—most of all—collaboration. Her journey has since led her to co-create programs across six countries and 13 cities, helping sterilize over 1,500 cats.

Adelle introduces listeners to the philosophy of "full circle TNR," a method that ensures every cat in a colony—from dominant toms to young kittens—receives care. Alongside veterinary access challenges and emotional fatigue, she explores the importance of local empowerment and strategic targeting to break the cycle of suffering.

Plus, don't miss her story about a sardine-covered kitten, a game-changing government partner, and a courtyard filled with compassion.

In this episode you will hear:

• What "full circle TNR" really means and why it matters

• The limitations of DIY and pest-control traps in international rescue

• Why empowering local partners builds lasting change

• How to prevent burnout with strategic, boundary-driven rescue

• The role of municipal partnerships in scaling TNVR

• Insights from Adelle's podcast Saving the Streets

Resources from this episode:

• travelanimalrescue.org

• Instagram: @travelanimalrescue

• Linktree for Travel Animal Rescue

• Saaving the Streets Podcast on Pet Life Radio

• TikTok: @travelanimalrescueglobal

• Neighborhood Cats Resources

In this special episode of United We Spay, the mic flips as longtime host Stacy LeBaron takes the guest seat for the first time. Interviewed by United Spay Alliance's Administrative Director Brianna Lovell Myers, Stacy reflects on her 30+ years in animal welfare, her unexpected entry into the world of trap-neuter-return (TNR), and the pivotal moments that shaped her mission to prevent animal suffering through spay/neuter advocacy.

Stacy shares the story that sparked her passion for accessible spay/neuter — a heartbreaking encounter with dozens of suffering kittens in a New Hampshire dumpster — and how that moment led to decades of impactful work, including founding the Community Cats Podcast, launching multiple mobile clinics, and helping over 320 grassroots organizations through grant programs.

From developing innovative tools like the Community Cat Calculator to opening affordable care clinics that reject economic euthanasia, Stacy breaks down the strategies she believes are essential to building sustainable solutions in a post-pandemic world.

This heartfelt and practical conversation covers burnout, mentorship, incremental veterinary care, and the value of strategic collaboration. Whether you're new to animal advocacy or a seasoned TNR veteran, Stacy's insights offer both inspiration and actionable guidance to create change in your own community.

In this episode you will hear:

• The origin story behind Stacy's spay/neuter activism

• How to build local veterinary capacity without burning out

• Sustainable models for low-cost clinics that really work

• The importance of collaboration over competition in rescue work

• A vision for a more humane world for all community cats

• United Spay Alliance

• Community Cats Podcast

• Community Cat Calculator Tool

• Contact Stacy: stacy@unitedspayalliance.org

In this episode of United We Spay, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes Cheri Storms, Executive Director of Pet Friendly Services of Indiana and Chair of the United Spay Alliance Vet Shortage Task Force. With a statewide view of spay/neuter services and firsthand experience navigating the challenges of veterinary access, Cheri brings clarity and urgency to a national crisis: the veterinary shortage threatening spay/neuter capacity across the U.S.

Cheri shares how the vet shortage—once a simmering concern—boiled over post-pandemic, leaving shelters, rescues, and pet owners scrambling. She explains how task force initiatives like high-quality, high-volume "wet labs" are training veterinarians in the field, and highlights mobile units, voucher systems, and mega clinics as creative workarounds to increase access in "vet deserts."

Listeners will hear how states like Colorado and New Hampshire are pioneering mid-level practitioner roles and licensing foreign-trained vets—changes that could reshape the profession and expand public health services for animals. Cheri also addresses funding gaps, the vital role of spay/neuter financial assistance programs, and how communities can support more surgeries, more quickly.

If you care about animal welfare, public health, or the future of veterinary medicine, this episode provides a clear-eyed look at where we're heading—and what we must do to fix it.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The surprising truth about new vet school grads and their surgical skills

• How wet labs and mid-level practitioners could help solve the vet crisis

• Real talk: Why voucher programs work—and why they're underfunded

• What's working in Indiana: mobile units, mega clinics & community buy-in

• How states are stepping in with innovative laws to address the shortage

• Why early spay/neuter (Feline Fix by Five) still matters more than ever

Resources from this Episode

• Pet Friendly Services of Indiana

• United Spay Alliance – Feline Fix by Five

• Public Vet

• Vet Shortage Task Force

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

On today's episode of United We Spay, join Stacy LeBaron as she welcomes Dr. Michelle Gonzalez, the passionate founder of the Rascal Unit, a mobile veterinary clinic making waves in Ohio.

Dr. G shares her mission to tackle animal overpopulation through accessible and affordable spay-neuter services. Stacy and Dr. G's conversation reveals the hurdles pet owners face, from financial struggles to a need for more education, unveiling the moral challenges that come with pet care decisions. This episode paints a portrait of empathy and collaboration, urging the animal welfare community to eliminate judgment and focus on collective progress.

Hear the inspiring story of how the Rascal Unit operates in Ohio's veterinary deserts, partnering with local humane organizations to bridge gaps in animal care. Stacy and Dr. G explore the clinic's innovative approach, which doesn't just stop at providing services but extends to educating and mentoring new veterinary graduates. The episode highlights the crucial role of high-volume spay-neuter techniques and demonstrates how a mobile clinic can provide efficient, top-notch care.

Stacy and Dr. G invite you to see the transformative power of community-driven solutions in animal welfare through this insightful discussion.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Introduction to Dr. Michelle Gonzalez and the Rascal Unit's mission for affordable spay-neuter services
• The barriers to accessing veterinary care, including financial constraints and lack of education
• The concept of moral distress in pet care and the need for compassion and collaboration
• Overview of the Rascal Unit's operations in Ohio's veterinary deserts and partnerships with local humane organizations
• Insight into the mentorship program aimed at reigniting interest in surgery among new veterinary graduates
• High-quality, high-volume spay-neuter techniques and their benefits for patient care
• Community-driven approaches and the transformative impact of mobile veterinary solutions

Resources from this Episode

Rascal Unit: www.rascalunit.com

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

What if there was a way to directly impact animal welfare and environmental sustainability while honoring cultural traditions?

Join us for United We Spay as we uncover the inspiring path of Patricia "Pat" Chan, a trailblazer in animal welfare and the first female division chief for the Panama Canal Commission. Through her vision, Spay Panama has become a beacon of hope, providing spay-neuter services to over 350,000 animals, including those in the unique cultural landscape of the Guna community in Guna Yala. Explore the profound impact of these programs on managing animal populations in the face of climate change, as well as the vital collaboration with the Guna people that makes it all possible.

This conversation highlights the challenges and triumphs of Spay Panama, showcasing the heartwarming dedication of its long-term staff and volunteers. From overcoming language barriers to ensuring no animal is turned away, the clinic's inclusive approach fosters community involvement and global partnerships.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Pat Chan's transition from financial planner to animal welfare advocate and founder of Spay Panama
• Impact of spay-neuter initiatives in controlling animal populations, with over 350,000 procedures completed
• Collaboration with the Guna community to address animal welfare amidst environmental challenges
• Involvement of young volunteers and dedication of long-term staff in spay-neuter campaigns
• Expansion of veterinary services to include larger and exotic animals, like monkeys
• Overcoming obstacles such as language barriers and funding challenges to ensure inclusive animal care
• The role of animal welfare in supporting sustainable community practices in the face of climate change

Resources from this Episode

Spay Panama: spaypanama.org

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.