In a shocking turn of events, a Utah couple accidentally shipped their pet cat in an Amazon return package, trapping it in the box without food or water for six days. Carrie Clark, one of the cat’s owners, noticed the pet had gone missing on April 10. For nearly a week, Clark, along with family and friends, searched the couple’s house and neighborhood and plastered missing posters around town hoping to locate the cat.
The anxiety and stress of not knowing what happened to her beloved pet were excruciating for Clark. But then, she received a text notifying her that Galena’s microchip had been scanned. Later that day, she received a call from a veterinarian in California explaining that the cat was found inside an Amazon return package alongside five pairs of steel-toed work boots. The shortest distance between Utah and California is several hundred miles, making the discovery even more surprising.
Clark immediately shared the good news with her husband and realized that Galena must have jumped into an oversized box that they shipped out the previous Wednesday. With people turning to online shopping during COVID-19 lockdowns, there has been a rise in the number of online returns in 2021. KSL-TV reported that Galena was rescued from the box after six days without food or water by an Amazon employee who found her in the warehouse and took her to the vet.
Clark flew to California to reunite with her feline friend, describing it as an amazing experience. Despite being skinnier and mildly dehydrated, Galena’s bloodwork was normal and she was unharmed – thanks to having a microchip implanted in her neck when she was just three months old. Clark hopes that this story inspires other pet owners to microchip their pets as it significantly increases their chances of being reunited with them if lost. A cat microchip typically costs between $40 and $70 but can be worth its weight in gold if ever needed!