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Fort McMurray locksmith breaks into stranger's home to rescue three cats from wildfire

[Cats rescued from path of Fort McMurray wildfire / Reddit]

Three cats in the path of the Fort McMurray wildfire were rescued after a local locksmith broke into their owner’s home to save the animals.

The wildfire raging in and around the Alberta oil town in recent days has forced the evacuation of some 90,000 people — the largest in the province’s history. As the city emptied, pet owners who happened to be out of town when the fire struck have found themselves desperate to reach someone willing to save their pets.

A locksmith who goes by the username Ftmaclocksmith on Reddit answered the call of one resident.

According to a Reddit post, the locksmith noticed a note from the cats’ owner on the Fort McMurray Facebook page. The owner was out of town and needed someone to break into his home and rescue the animals. The locksmith, armed with the tools of the trade, was happy to oblige.

“Being a locksmith I was able to get in and out with no damage, but the fire is constantly spreading, getting closer to his and my own house as well,” he wrote.

He goes on to explain the rest of the mission his post: “I’ve never owned cats and didn’t even think that it would be an issue until the 3rd cat needed to go in. Couldn’t find her. Luckily I had my fiancé to help corner her when we found her hiding inside a couch upstairs. If figure if he has a nanny cam or anything, and his house makes it, he will get a kick out of seeing us running around trying to find this little kitty.”

These three weren’t the only animals that found themselves in the path of the fire without their owners. A Facebook page called Fort McMurray Fire Emergency Animal Assistance has been created to assist owners who have left pets behind.

As for the lucky three above, we’re happy to report they’re now all safely back with their owner.