Jessica Estrada didn’t plan to be a hero that day—but fate had other ideas.
The 42-year-old was hiking the Two Trees Trail in Riverside, California, on June 4 when something unthinkable happened. Just as she was heading back down the trail, Estrada spotted a car pull up. A woman stepped out—and to Jessica’s horror—threw a cat into the bushes.
The animal, clearly terrified, tried to run back toward her. But then the woman picked the cat up again and tossed it even farther before getting back in her car and driving away.
“It felt like an out-of-body experience,” Estrada said. She was standing about 30 to 40 feet away—close enough to see everything clearly, but too far to stop what had already happened.
Still, she knew she had to do something.
Estrada, who already has two rescue cats of her own, was devastated by what she witnessed. “The timing was heartbreaking, but meant to be,” she said. “As a person of faith, I felt God had placed me there at that moment to save this poor cat.”
The cat—an older male—was frozen in fear. He hissed, meowed, and wouldn’t let anyone near him. “He was clearly traumatized,” she said. “I tried to comfort him, but he ran deeper into the bushes, totally disoriented.”
Even so, Estrada stayed close, determined not to let him disappear. She called Animal Control immediately—but the nearest officer was over an hour away and already responding to another emergency.
So she waited. As long as it would take.
Then, a miracle showed up in the form of Park Ranger Jay.
“She just happened to be doing rounds nearby,” Estrada recalled. “When I told her what happened, she jumped into action.” Ranger Jay didn’t hesitate. She told Estrada that if the cat had been left out there overnight, he likely wouldn’t have survived—with snakes, coyotes, and summer heat posing serious threats.
Jay called in a colleague who brought a carrier, and together they safely transported the cat to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.
The shelter gave him a name: Joey.
Though Joey is an elderly cat, he’s in stable health, has been neutered, and—most importantly—is not at risk of being euthanized. He’ll remain at the shelter until he’s adopted into a loving home.
Estrada has been checking in for updates. “Please, someone rescue Joey,” she pleaded. “We probably witnessed the worst moment of his life—but someone out there can give him the love, warmth, and safety he deserves.”
To raise awareness, Estrada shared video footage of the heartbreaking incident on her Instagram, @prancing_fox. The clip went viral, racking up more than 2 million views and over 149,000 likes.
Alongside the video, she included a powerful message:
“Animals are not disposable. Please speak up when you see something wrong. You might be the only chance they have.”
The woman who abandoned Joey hasn’t been identified, but Estrada hopes she sees the video—and knows that despite her cruelty, Joey was saved. “What they did—and the way they did it—suggests something broken inside,” she said. “I sincerely hope they do the work to face that and grow from it.”
Still, something good came from the pain. Ranger Jay has been recognized for her quick thinking and compassion. And Joey has become a symbol—for second chances and why rescue work matters.
Thousands of people have flooded the comments section of the video with messages of gratitude and hope.
“Awesome situational awareness! Thank you for taking action,” one commenter wrote.
Another added, “You have such a kind heart. Thank you for helping the kitty cat.”
Estrada hugged her own rescue cats a little tighter that night.
Because while what she saw broke her heart, what came next reminded her: compassion is still alive—and sometimes, it only takes one person to change everything.
