Duane Hook, a dedicated cat rescuer from Columbus, recently faced a rescue situation that would not only save a life but also capture the hearts of thousands.
It’s one of those stories that shows how a little kindness can go a long way and spark something big. Here’s how it all went down.
Duane made the long two-and-a-half-hour drive to Toledo to help Alexandria Harris rescue her 6-month-old cat Spice stuck in a tree for two and a half days.
The woman was frantic and unsure how to get Spice down, especially after watching her kitty struggle for so long.
Having seen this kind of situation many times before, Duane thought it would be a fairly easy rescue. He’d done countless tree rescues, and this one seemed like it would follow the same pattern.
What he didn’t know was that Spice was far more stressed than he anticipated – and she wasn’t going down without a fight.
Equipped with high-tech climbing gear, Duane started working his way up the tree, determined to get Spice to safety.
But as he got nearer, it quickly became clear that Spice was terrified. Her instincts kicked in, and she wasn’t going to make it easy. Duane explained the moment, sharing in an interview:
“I thought it was going to be a very easy rescue, like one of the easiest, apart from the power lines. That’s what I thought, until I got near enough for Spice to hear and see me, and I instantly learned that Spice had stranger danger.”
As Duane climbed up, Spice darted from one side of the tree to the other, growing more panicked with each movement. She was clearly in survival mode.
Eventually, she scrambled into a small hole in the tree, refusing to come out. It was her only defense against the stranger trying to save her.
Spice hissed, growled, and swatted away the food Duane tried to offer, making it abundantly clear that she wasn’t ready to trust him.
Duane had never seen a cat react so aggressively to a rescue attempt, as he shared:
“I’ve never seen a cat like more aggressively trying to get me away from them than Spice.”
Meanwhile, Alexandria could only watch from the ground, feeling helpless as Spice remained stuck in the tree, sharing:
“She melted in that small hole. She wasn’t letting him get her out. So I said, ‘Well, I wish I could get up there and get her.’”
That’s when Alexandria realized – she had to go up. Even though she was terrified of heights, she knew she had to face her fear for Spice.
So Duane equipped her with the same climbing gear he used and guided her up about 20 feet into the tree, sharing:
“I set her up to where she was 100 percent safe. Nothing could have gone wrong.”
With Duane’s support and encouragement, Alexandria managed to coax Spice and bring her down to safety. The poor kitty was exhausted and scared, but finally safe.
As she hadn’t been able to eat for days, she wasted no time digging into the food, grateful for the comfort and peace that had finally come, as Alexandria shared:
“She was so happy when I finally got her down and put her in a crate. She ate so much; she ate so good.”
After her wild adventure, Spice was doing great. She took her time to relax on the porch like she knew she earned it.
Alexandria, still amazed at how far she went to save her cat, shared:
“She’s been sitting on the porch, like she learned her lesson.”
The video of the rescue quickly went viral, with over 873,000 views on TikTok and 570,000 combined views on Facebook and Instagram.
What made this rescue even more remarkable was that it was Duane’s first time involving an owner in the rescue. Usually, he does it all himself, but this time, Alexandria’s bravery took center stage, which truly impressed him, as he shared:
“It was just so amazing to watch Alexandria overcome her fears. I was so impressed. And it was worth the drive just to be able to see Alexandria take care of her business like that.”
Thanks to people like Duane, more and more cats are getting the help they need. Their dedication to saving these animals, at their own expense and effort, shows how much compassion exists in the world.
For Duane, it’s not about money or fame; it’s about making a difference, as he explained:
“My goal in life is to reduce suffering with my skills. I understand cat behavior, I meet great people, and I’m building connections and community.”
Spice’s rescue wasn’t just a success but an amazing experience that shows what we can do when we push through our fears for the ones we care about.