Fort McMurray hamsters rescued during fire evacuation get visit from premier

Five-year-old Isaac Leamon woke up sobbing from anightmare half way through his family's month-long evacuation fromfire-ravaged Fort McMurray.

He wanted to go home.

"I'm so worried about my hamster ... He must be really, reallyhungry," the boy told his father.

• Today may prove to be real test for Fort McMurray re-entry plans
• 'I feel blessed': Fort McMurray mom thankful for home-coming

Dorman Leamon said his son's words broke his heart and he had toresist the urge to jump in his car and head back to the city torescue the furry rodent.

Instead, the construction worker and his wife reached out to theFort McMurray SPCA.

Within two days, bylaw officers were at the family's downtowncondo and phoning to say Isaac's hamster, Jack, along with hissix-year-old sister's hamster, Peanut, were just fine.

The kids heard the whole conversation on speaker phone, andjumped up and down with glee.

"It basically lifted a huge cloud off of us and the kids,"Leamon said.

More than 80,000 people were evacuated May 3, when a hugewildfire spread into the oilsands capital and destroyed about 2,400homes and buildings.

As the first wave of residents were allowed back into the cityWednesday, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley told reporters there havebeen many stories of human kindness during the evacuation, and gavethe hamsters' story as an example.

She then visited the Fort McMurray SPCA and cuddled with a catbefore meeting the Leamon family's pets.

"You're apparently a star now," Notley said as Jack clung toher arm.

Bylaw officer Stacey St. Germain said that when the two hamsterswere found, one was dehydrated and fed drops of water until itperked up. The animals are now staying at the SPCA until the familyreturns to the city.

It felt amazing to help, said St. Germain, and the owners wereincredibly thankful.

"They were just elated that we would take the time to go andcare about, not just dogs and cats, but every creature --beardeddragons, birds, fish, hamsters," she said.

"They all matter."

Leamon said he had given the hamsters piles of food and left themwith full water bottles, thinking the evacuation wouldn't last morethan a few days.

He now realizes how much his son and daughter have been affectedby the fire and being away from home, he said.

The family is staying with friends in Tofield, east of Edmonton,but the kids miss their school, their things and their first-everpets.

"I know it's just hamsters," said Leamon.

"I never would have expected anyone, in a situation like this,in an evacuated city with so much going on, to do that for children.Fort McMurray is amazing."