Local pet store owner gets reimbursed for Fort Nelson evacuation expenses

FORT NELSON, B.C. — Ken Johnson, owner of Pet Pa’s Food and Accessories, has been reimbursed for expenses incurred during the Fort Nelson wildfire evacuation that took place in May. 

Johnson wrote a letter to the mayor and council of Fort Nelson, asking for money back for thousands of dollars he had spent on pet food and other expenses. 

During the evacuation, 38 households left pets behind, including cats, dogs, birds, fish, hamsters, gerbils, a hedgehog, newborn puppies, and newborn chickens. 

“I and another individual realized that these pets needed to be cared for in terms of food, habitat cleaning, bathroom hygiene, and human company,” wrote Johnson. 

The pet store owner stepped forward to handle the pets, but he says the costs exceeded his expectations, and his insurance does not cover them. 

Johnson wrote that he only received $1,100 in donations from the pet owners, which did not come close to covering his personal expenses.  

During their September 3rd meeting, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) council agreed to pay Johnson $3,464.30 from the mayor’s discretionary fund.

NRRM Mayor Rob Fraser expressed disappointment that the pet owners did not reimburse him for more of Johnson’s expenses.

“I don’t want to see him out of pocket for something he did out of the goodness of his heart, but it flabbergasted me that the pet owners themselves never stepped up,” said Fraser. 

Johnson’s full letter can be viewed below: