A surgical staple remover apparatus includes a handle located at a rear of the apparatus, an upward sloped jaw element comprising a pair of jaws, an arm having a hook element on a distal end, wherein the arm is positioned such that the hook element is disposed over the jaw element, a housing, a spring that couples the housing to the arm, a lever mechanically coupled to the arm, wherein moving the lever closer to the handle results in the hook element pressing against a crown of a surgical staple, deforming the surgical staple for removal and moving the surgical staple proximally, and a strip element located on top of the jaw element, such that when the hook element deforms and moves the surgical staple proximally, the surgical staple is moved under the strip element and held in place by same.