In April 2021, a Utah couple accidentally shipped their pet cat in an Amazon return package, trapping it 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 and her 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.
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. The vet explained 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, realizing 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 an increase in online returns in 2021. KSL-TV reported that the cat was rescued from the box after six days without food or water by an Amazon employee. The employee found her in the warehouse and took her to the vet.
Clark flew to California to reunite with her cat, Galena, who instantly relaxed in her arms upon seeing him again after being away for so long. Despite being skinnier and mildly dehydrated due to being trapped in the box without food or water for six days, Galena’s bloodwork was normal and she was unharmed thanks to quick action by Amazon employees and veterinarians alike.
Clark hopes that this story inspires other pet owners to microchip their pets since having a microchip significantly increases the chances of reuniting lost pets with their owners as she did with hers through this experience. The American Veterinary Medical Association states that a cat microchip typically costs between $40 and $70 but can be worth its weight in gold when it comes to reconnecting families with their furry loved ones during unexpected circumstances like these.
