The director of the shelter says the rodents were well cared for and will make nice pets.
Shelter director Mike Keiley tells the Eagle-Tribune that the hamsters' owner, whom he didn't identify, stopped by this month and said he had a lot of hamsters to surrender.
A Lawrence animal control officer says the man was "overwhelmed" when officials came to get the hamsters Friday, and initially wanted to keep a few. But she says he changed his mind.
Officials say the man started keeping the hamsters about five years ago.