A Utah couple accidentally shipped their pet cat in an Amazon return package, leaving it without food or water for six days. Carrie Clark, one of the cat’s owners, noticed the pet was missing on April 10. For nearly a week, Clark and her family and friends searched the couple’s house and neighborhood, plastering missing posters around town in hopes of finding the cat. The anxiety and stress of not knowing what happened to her beloved pet were excruciating for Clark.
Then, Clark 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 to Clark that the cat was found inside an Amazon return package, along with 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 they shipped out the previous Wednesday. With people turning to online shopping during COVID-19 lockdowns, there has been a rise in the number of online returns in 2021. KSL-TV reported that Galena 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 and her husband then flew to California to reunite with their cat, Galena. The reunion was amazing as Galena instantly stopped shaking and relaxed in Clark’s arms. Despite being skinnier and mildly dehydrated, the cat’s bloodwork was normal, and she was unharmed. Clark hopes this story inspires other pet owners to microchip their pets. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), having a microchip significantly increases the chances of reuniting lost pets with their owners – a cat microchip typically costs between $40 and $70.
Clark did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI when asked about how she felt about her experience with Amazon.
In conclusion, shipping pets can be dangerous as it could result in them getting trapped in packaging or boxes without food or water for extended periods