A vigil was held at Council Acres Park, bringing the community together to honor two cats killed in May, transforming collective grief into determined action.
WACO, Texas — Animal advocates, volunteers and community members gathered at Council Acres Park in Waco on June 2 to honor two cats whose brutal deaths shocked the city and sparked a movement for greater animal protection.
The vigil, organized by the Animal Birth Control Clinic, drew an overwhelming response from residents still reeling from the May 20 discovery of two cats found hanging from utility lines near Baylor University. The gathering transformed grief into action, with organizers expanding efforts to protect Waco’s extensive community cat population.
“We’re holding a vigil for the two cats that were found dead on May 20,” said Carrie Spivey, executive director of the Animal Birth Control Clinic. “We’re doing this to memorialize them and also to care for the caregivers in town. There’s so many people that care for outdoor cats.”
The speakers offered comforting words to volunteers who had cared for the cats as part of their daily routines, feeding and protecting community cat colonies throughout the city.
We have learned that the two cats’ names were Tracy Tabby and Big Momma.
“These feeders and caregivers are the ones that are loving on them, giving them food, water, shelter – all the things these cats need to live,” explained Skylar Turner, the clinic’s development and communications coordinator. “The outdoors is their home, so they really love these animals like they’re their own.”
The vigil shed light on Waco’s extensive but often invisible network of community cat caregivers – volunteers who dedicate their time, money and hearts to feeding and protecting hundreds of outdoor cats across the city and McLennan County.
For these caregivers, the loss hits particularly hard. Unlike traditional pet owners, they grieve for animals they loved but never owned, creating a emotional landscape that many struggle to navigate alone.
“The grieving process is different for everybody. We express ourselves differently, we have different paths,” Spivey acknowledged. “This should hold some space for those that want to come and feel comforted by being with others.”
The Animal Birth Control Clinic, which has operated Waco’s trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs since 2004, performs over 2,000 spay and neuter procedures for area cats annually.
“Our mission is to provide veterinary care that is affordable and accessible for cats and dogs. It makes our community healthier and safer,” Spivey said.
“We’re hoping to create a bigger community for the caregivers that are already here and making them feel supported and know that they have a place like ABC to go to get the supplies that they need.”
The vigil comes after the arrest of James Barnes, 22, a former Baylor University student charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals in connection with the cats’ deaths. Barnes, who graduated from Baylor on May 17 – just three days before the incident – was booked into McLennan County Jail Friday before bonding out that evening.
Baylor University released a statement calling the incident “abhorrent” and saying it “does not reflect Baylor’s Christian values.”
While the arrest brings some measure of justice, Monday’s gathering focused on healing and prevention rather than punishment.
Organizers say the vigil represents just the beginning of expanded efforts to protect community cats and support their caregivers. Plans include educational programs about TNR methods, expanded volunteer networks and increased resources for cat colony maintenance.
The clinic accepts donations in memory of the two cats to support future TNR services and sponsor memorial pavers at their facility. The overwhelming community response suggests strong support for these expanded efforts.
“We just want to educate people on what community cats are, what TNR is and how people can help,” Turner said.