The Cat Was Accidentally Shipped In An Amazon Return Box And Found 650 Miles From Home After A 6-Day Journey.
An Amazon driver discovered an unexpected stowaway when Galena, the cat, slipped into a return package and embarked on a 6-day, 650-mile journey from Utah to California. This curious feline’s odyssey began in a rather unusual setting—an Amazon return box.
Carrie Clark, a Salt Lake City resident and mother of two, credits an attentive Amazon warehouse worker for reuniting her with her beloved pet. Overcome with worry after Galena’s disappearance, Carrie turned to social media to voice her concern. On April 10, she alerted her followers that her treasured cat was missing from their home. Despite extensive searches that extended throughout their neighborhood and beyond, there was no sign of Galena. “We combed through every nook and cranny in our area for a week,” but Galena seemed to have vanished.
A week after Galena’s disappearance, Carrie was losing hope. But everything changed on April 17, when she received an unexpected call from a veterinarian in California. The vet claimed to have found her missing cat. “I never thought I’d see her again,” Carrie recounted to Fox News. She was so taken aback that she initially doubted the legitimacy of the call.
To ensure the cat was indeed hers, Carrie verified her phone number, address, and regular veterinarian’s details with the California vet—all of which were linked to Galena’s microchip. Yet, the question of how Galena ended up in California remained a mystery. The vet revealed the astonishing route of her journey: Galena had accidentally leapt into an Amazon return package and was sent to a distribution center in California
During a routine check, a night worker at Amazon, Brandy Hunter, was alerted by a colleague about an unusual discovery in a returned parcel—six days after it was shipped. “Opening that box to find a live cat was utterly unexpected,” Brandy recounted.
Recognizing the urgency, Brandy immediately transported the cat to a nearby veterinarian, where a scan of the microchip revealed the considerable distance Galena had covered. “Without the microchip and Brandy’s incredible kindness, our reunion with Galena might never have happened,”.
Compelled by their strong bond, Carrie and her husband, Matt Clark, quickly flew to California to retrieve their cherished cat. “Galena has been my special companion for six years. Being there for her during this ordeal was profoundly moving,” Carrie shared.
Fortunately, Galena’s journey had not put her life at risk. The side of the box, which also contained five pairs of steel-toed boots, had torn open, allowing her to breathe. Upon examination at the vet, Galena’s health was confirmed to be stable with normal blood work results.
“We’re immensely thankful to Brandy for her swift action and the compassion she showed our beloved Galena,” Carrie enthusiastically praised.
