Utah cat accidentally shipped in an Amazon return box, found 650 miles from home by warehouse worker
With her owner 'in shock,' Galena the cat apparently jumped into an Amazon return package and was shipped off to California
By Brittany Kasko Fox NewsPublished April 26, 2024 4:28pm EDT | Updated April 27, 2024 1:01pm EDT
Cat reunited with owners after accidentally being shipped in an Amazon box to the warehouse
A cat named Galena from Utah went missing for six days when her owner got a call from a California vet saying her animal had been found in an Amazon return box at a local warehouse. Carrie Clark and her husband flew 650 miles to bring her home.One cat lover has an Amazon warehouse worker to thank for helping to reunited her with her furry friend.
Carrie Clark is a mom of two from the Salt Lake City, Utah, area who recently lost her beloved cat named Galena.
Clark shared on social media with others that her cat disappeared on Wednesday, April 10, from their home.
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"We searched every nook and cranny in our home, neighborhood … neighborhoods surrounding us for a week," she posted on Facebook.
With no luck, Clark said she was feeling defeated a week after Galena went missing.
Galena has been known to jump and hide in unique places, her owner said. (Carrie Clark)
However, seven days later, on April 17, Clark was stunned to receive a phone call from a veterinarian in California who said she had her lost animal.
Clark told Fox News Digital she didn’t think she "would ever see her again."
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"I went into shock and didn’t believe the caller," she said.
To confirm Galena was actually her cat, Clark had to verify her phone number, address and the veterinarian she used for pet care — all of which were pulled from the cat's microchip.
Carrie Clark and her husband Matt Clark, pictured here, hopped on a plane the next morning to be reunited with their lost cat. (Carrie Clark)
Clark said that’s when she found out how Galena got to California in the first place.
Galena had jumped into an Amazon return package and was accidentally shipped to a return center warehouse in California.
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Amazon night worker Brandy Hunter was notified by another warehouse worker that the animal had been found in a package.
"A live cat was literally the last thing they were expecting to see when they opened the box," she said.
Hunter told Fox News Digital that she immediately took the animal to a vet — where Galena’s microchip was found.
Pet owner Clark said she's forever grateful for Brandy Hunter, right, who helped reunite owner and animal. (Carrie Clark)
"Without the microchip and the kindness of Brandy [Hunter], we never would have found her again," Clark wrote on Facebook.
Clark and her husband, Matt Clark, hopped on a plane to California — where they went to get Galena and bring her home.
"Galena’s been ‘my kitty’ for six years — she and I have a very close bond, and it felt incredible to be there for her in her time of need," Clark said to Fox News Digital.
Galena was found in California after she was sealed in an Amazon box for six days with no food or water. (Carrie Clark)
Clark said her feline friend survived thanks to a side seam that split open in the box — and at the vet, her blood work came back completely normal.
"We can’t thank Brandy [Hunter] enough for rescuing our baby and all the kindness and love that she shares to everyone," she continued.
As for how Galena got into the Amazon return package to begin with, Clark told Fox News Digital that her husband had ordered six pairs of "try before you buy" steel-toed work boots.
Galena jumped into an Amazon return package — and was inadvertently shipped to a warehouse in California. (iStock)
After keeping one pair and returning the other five, he walked away to grab tape and scissors to close up his 3 ft. x 3 ft. x 3 ft. box — which is when Galena must have hopped inside it.
"Most likely, she opened the flap, and it came down behind her," Clark assumed.
She continued, "Galena loves to hide, hunt and play in boxes — and this was a very large box!"
A Utah cat was accidentally shipped back to an Amazon warehouse in California and was found 650 miles from home. (iStock/Carrie Clark)
Clark said the box was already huge and heavy, adding that a 10-pound cat didn’t raise any red flags.
"Galena’s a part of our family, and we’re so grateful to have more time with her," she said.
