Our Story
​Every great mission starts with a single pawprint—ours started with Gypsy's.
The Journey Behind the Paws
​While each of us took a different path to get here, we've all shared a lifelong passion for helping cats. Long before this organization was formed, our team members were trapping, rescuing, fostering, advocating for, and caring for cats throughout our community. Along the way, our paths crossed through a common goal: helping cats in need and finding compassionate solutions to Greenville's growing community cat population. What began as individual efforts soon became a shared mission. Inspired by Gypsy, one of the first community cats whose life was changed through TNR, we came together to build an organization dedicated to creating lasting change for cats across Greenville.
Elaine Spencer
Co-founder and President
Elaine grew up in Cat Ridge on Ocracoke Island, where she began trapping and taming
kittens at a young age. Cats have always been part of her life, and her passion is
helping them live better. She believes TNVR is an important way to reduce the number
of unwanted kittens and cats.
After retiring from PCC following 24 years of service, Elaine is busier than ever. Caring
for 15 cats of her own, fostering kittens, feeding more than 30 feral cats, and caring for
her mother and brother make her days fuller than any full-time job. She lives by the
principle of putting others before herself.
​The Humans Behind the Mission
Lori Edwards
Co-founder and Vice President
Lori has always had a lifelong passion for animals, particularly cats. She has always had a pet in her life.Â
​
Lori's commitment to animal welfare is evident in her service on boards of other animal rescues and over 15 years of experience with Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs.Â
​
After reconnecting with Elaine nearly 20 years after college, they joined forces to combat cat overpopulation, ultimately establishing an official non-profit organization. In her spare time Lori enjoys traveling and crafting (especially reading and painting).
Dixie ZinsÂ
Director of Social Media and Technology
Like many cat people, Dixie didn't choose the cats, the cats chose her. After moving to Greenville and rescuing several cats in need, she discovered a passion for helping community cats and reducing the cycle of homelessness through TNVR.
Outside of her rescue work, Dixie works full-time, volunteers with a local youth leadership nonprofit, and is earning her degree in accounting. She believes that compassion, community, and a little determination can go a long way in creating a better future for both people and cats.
Jamie Vick
Secretary
Jamie proudly claims the title of "cat lady"and she's definitely earned it! She's been trapping alongside Lori for the past seven to eight years and has cared for her own community cat colony for nearly 12 years. With over 30 years as an administrative assistant, Jamie keeps things organized while putting her passion for community cats into action. Whether she's coordinating behind the scenes or helping cats get the care they need, she's always happy to make a difference.
Jennifer Davenport
Board Member
Pat PeabodyÂ
Board Member
Pat Peabody found her way into cat rescue almost by accident. After work each evening, she noticed the community cats in her parking lot searching for food while well-meaning people tossed scraps from their cars. Wanting to give them something better, she started feeding them and as she says, "the rest is history."
​
Today, Pat helps wherever she's needed, whether that's trapping, transporting, or caring for community cat colonies. A retired nurse anesthetist, she has a lifelong love for animals and believes every cat deserves safety, security, and a good quality of life. She's passionate about reducing the number of cats forced to struggle for survival and is proud to be part of making a difference, one cat at a time.
Kelly Clark
Treasurer
Board Member
Rebecca Alfred
Rebecca is a lifelong animal lover and proud pet parent to two rescue cats and two rescue dogs. One of her cats was found as a kitten near a local community cat colony, while the other came from a Gypsy Cats TNVR-managed colony after Rebecca spent two months feeding and caring for him before falling completely in love.
​
Passionate about animal welfare, Rebecca is especially dedicated to supporting Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) efforts, reducing community cat overpopulation, and helping socialize friendly cats for adoption whenever possible. She currently serves on the board of Gypsy Cats TNVR, advocating for humane solutions that improve the lives of both cats and the communities they call home.
​
Rebecca lives in Winterville with her husband, son, two cats—Kuma and Tater—and her dogs, Journey and Scout. When she's not tending to her furry family, she works as a Realtor® serving Pitt County and Eastern North Carolina. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, mission work, and escaping to the beach whenever she gets the chance.
More Than Just a Number
Every cat in our TNVR journey has a story, and these are just a few of the faces that remind us why we do what we do.
