Despite having his thumb bitten and ending up in urgent care, Shannon Hyde says he will do it again any time there is the need. 

Hyde is an arborist for who comes to the aid of any feline who finds themselves stuck up a sapling. 

After the self-proclaimed animal lover became a certified arborist, he was told by a colleague to get in touch with the local fire departments to put his name on a list to help cats stuck in trees, because contrary to popular belief firefighters do not rescue kittens atop seedlings. 

Soon both 琉璃神社 and West 琉璃神社 Fire Departments were calling Hyde for his expertise in rescuing stuck cats and from there the word spread.

The Okanagan Humane Society discovered Hyde and his talents for taming tabbies, and now he says he rescues about 12 cats stuck up trees a year for the organization.

鈥淚 have never charged for cat rescues, instead I ask that people donate to the Okanagan Humane Society because they are a really great charity and I have used their services myself,鈥� he explained. 

On Oct. 21, Hyde was called into action in 琉璃神社 to help a poor kitty who had been stuck up a tree for nearly 48 hours. A neighbour had reported the trapped cat to OHS, who then reached out to Hyde.

鈥淭his cat did not want to come out of the tree and into the bag. So, I had to repel down the tree while I was still holding the cat and when I got to the ground I grabbed its back legs to put it in the carrier and he saw my thumb and figured it was snack time,鈥� said Hyde. 

Despite not always having the best outcome in assisting feline tree rescues, Hyde continues to help. 

鈥淲e had a cat up in Joe Rich a few weeks ago that was jumping from tree to tree to get away from me. And, by the time I got up another tree the cat said, 鈥業 don鈥檛 want to play this game anymore,鈥� and he jumped down about 50 feet and took off,鈥� explained Hyde. 

He said he was later contacted by the owner of the cat to report their pet was safe and back home. 

鈥淚 tell the cat owners, your cat isn鈥檛 going to like me. I am going to grab them by the scruff of the neck and put them in a bag to rescue them,鈥� he said. 

But just because these cats might not be fond of Hyde that doesn鈥檛 mean he feels the same way toward the pets. He said he is an animal guy who just said goodbye to his 19-year-old cat, who had a great life and will be sorely missed. 

The average cost of care for an OHS animal is $300 and since the start of 2024, the charity has helped more than 3,200 pets. 

To help animals in OHS care please go to.