Shannon Hyde owns Sisu Tree Care. Typically his days are full of pruning, cutting trees and yard clean-ups in the fall. But he’s also ready to jump into action to rescue animals, especially cats that get stuck in trees.
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.
On October 21, Hyde received a call for a rescue in Kelowna. A cat had been stranded in a tree for nearly 48 hours, prompting a concerned neighbour to reach out to OHS. When Hyde arrived, he transformed into a real-life superhero, complete with a helmet adorned with a Batman logo. The cat was successfully rescued, but not without a little reluctance. Hyde had to rappel down while holding the cat and once he reached the ground the cat took a little nibble of his thumb.
Fortunately, the cat was checked by OHS and eventually reunited with its owner through social media as the cat was not microchipped. This highlights the importance of microchipping, as it leads to much faster reunions then with cats that are not microchipped.
Since the beginning of 2024, OHS has assisted over 3,200 pets, and Hyde plays a vital role in this mission, rescuing about 12 cats stuck in trees each year. He doesn’t charge for his services; instead, he encourages donations to the OHS, an organization he trusts and has benefited from himself.
