Utah Cat Accidentally Shipped 650 Miles in Amazon Return Reunites with Family After a Week in Transit
The cat, named Galena, was hiding in a box filled with shoes, when her family returned to Amazon
Courtesy of Carrie Stevens Clark
Carrie Clark with Galena in California (left) and the shipping box the feline was found in at an Amazon distribution centerA Utah cat is back with her family after traveling to California in an Amazon return box.
Galena's owners, Carrie and Matt Clark, told KSL News that the feline, like many cats, has an affinity for hiding in boxes.
"She loves to play in boxes; it's just part of her personality," Carrie told the local news site in a video interview. The curious cat's amusing habit of hiding in boxes led to a scary situation on Wednesday, April 10, when Galena's Lehi-based owners couldn't find their pet anywhere.
Unbeknownst to them, Galena had left the house in a large box of shoes that Matt had sent out as a return to Amazon. The cat was hiding in the box — which contained a pair of CAT Footwear shoes, among others — when it was closed up, causing her to get sent out with the returns.
Courtesy of Carrie Stevens Clark
Galena the displaying her love for hiding in boxesCarrie and Matt thoroughly searched their house and put up missing cat flyers in their community, utterly unaware that their cat's favorite game of box hide-and-seek had gone awry.
Related: Pet Owners Praise 'Power of a Microchip' After Reuniting with Lost Cat 5 Years Later
"Galena is a huge emotional support to me and has helped me get through many health challenges over the past six years," Carrie told KSL. "The anxiety and stress of not knowing what happened to her was excruciating."
Courtesy of Carrie Stevens Clark
The return shipment Galena the cat was found in at an Amazon distribution station in CaliforniaA week after realizing their beloved pet had gone missing, Matt and Carrie got a call from someone with a surprise — Galena's microchip had been scanned in Riverside, Calif., 650 miles away from Lehi, and the chip's information had led to the cat's owners.
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More specifically, an employee at an Amazon distribution station had found the feline in an Amazon package filled with the shoes Matt had sent in his return shipment. The employee, identified as Brandy, took care of Galena until she reunited with her family.
Courtesy of Carrie Stevens Clark
Carrie Clark (left) with Brandy, the Amazon employee that helped reunite Carrie with her catAs soon as Carrie and Matt got the "insane news" that Galena had been found in a box at the Amazon facility, the owners booked a flight to California.
"It was an amazing reunion! Galena instantly stopped shaking and relaxed in my arms when I got to hold her again," Carrie told KSL of the reunion at a California vet's office. "Despite being skinnier and some mild dehydration, her bloodwork was completely normal and she was completely unharmed!"
Courtesy of Carrie Stevens Clark
Galena the cat relaxin at home in UtahDuring the shipping process, Galena unfortunately went without food and water for six days.
"The weather temperatures were ideal and she didn't overheat or freeze. Galena survived because of her microchip, Brandy's kindness and generosity, and God's grace!" said Carrie.
After the ordeal, the Clark family is advocating for microchipping your pets and triple-checking your Amazon boxes.
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