In an extraordinary twist of fate, Galena, a cherished cat from Lehi, Utah, found herself 650 miles away from home after inadvertently being shipped to California in an Amazon return package. The incident began when Galena, known for her curiosity, snuck into a large box of work boots slated for return and went unnoticed by her owners.
Carrie Stephens Clark, Galena’s owner, recounted the harrowing week when her beloved cat went missing. Despite exhaustive searches in the local area, putting up flyers, and extensive social media posts, there was no sign of Galena. “I was beyond devastated,” Clark said. “Galena is a huge emotional support to me.”
The mystery was solved when Clark received a phone call on April 17 from a California veterinarian, informing her that Galena’s microchip had been scanned in Riverside, near Los Angeles. According to Clark, the cat had hidden in the Amazon package without anyone realizing, enduring a six-day ordeal in a sealed box and trailer.
At the Amazon facility’s customer returns department, worker Brandy Hunter and a colleague discovered Galena. “She was absolutely terrified and distressed,” Hunter shared. Despite her fear, the cat was in surprisingly good health, suffering only from dehydration and weight loss.
Hunter took immediate action to care for Galena and locate her owners. “She had nothing physically wrong…nothing broken but everything muscular/skeletal checked out just fine, and her temp was normal,” Hunter explained.
The reunion between Galena and her owners was nothing short of magical. “That’s when the magic happened…her owners arrived and joined us in the room! This moment was absolutely amazing,” recalled Hunter. Following the reunion, Clark and her husband traveled by plane to California and then drove 1,400 miles back to Utah with Galena.
Reflecting on the unexpected journey, Clark expressed her gratitude for the series of fortunate events that led to Galena’s safe return. “The side seam of her box split open so she could breathe, the weather was ideal temperatures, she was sent to Brandy’s Amazon facility who knows all about cats and knew exactly how to help her,” Clark detailed. She credited the microchip, Hunter’s knowledge, and what she described as divine intervention as the reasons why Galena survived.
Both Hunter and Clark emphasized the importance of microchipping pets and encouraged pet owners to ensure the safety of their animals. “I am so so very thankful she was chipped and I was able to locate her owners so fast,” Hunter said, highlighting the quick identification and reunion made possible by the chip.
Clark added a word of advice for online shoppers: “Triple check your Amazon boxes!” She hopes her story will inspire other pet owners to take preventive measures to safeguard their beloved animals from similar fates.
This remarkable story highlights not only the resilience of a small cat but also the profound bond between pets and their owners, reminding us of the importance of pet safety measures like microchipping.
