Matt Clark wanted to return 5 pairs of steel-toed work boots that he ordered from Amazon, so he packaged them up in a giant field — together with the household cat.
Now, the household has a story with a tail, all in regards to the journey of Galena, a 6-year-old short-haired feline who traveled almost 630 miles contained in the sealed package deal from her house in Lehi, Utah, to an Amazon warehouse in Riverside in early April.
Clark’s spouse, Carrie, mentioned Galena likes to play in packing containers, cover and hunt. She is understood to be quiet. However no person anticipated her to grow to be a stowaway.
“Sadly, she’s not the sort of cat who makes noises, so she wasn’t talking up for herself,” she mentioned.
A seam within the return field had grow to be unglued permitting for airflow for Galena to breath whereas snuggled up subsequent to the 5 packing containers of shoes.
(Carrie Clark)
Galena’s unintentional journey began April 10, when Matt Clark put the 5 packing containers of shoes in a 3-foot by 3-foot package deal.
The Clarks suspect Galena jumped into the field when Matt walked away to get a pair of scissors and tape to seal it.
Matt didn’t actually examine the field as a result of he had already positioned the boots inside. He sealed it up and took the big package deal to the native UPS retailer, which handles Amazon transport, Carrie Clark mentioned.
That night, the Clarks and their two daughters seen Galena wasn’t anyplace in the home.
For the subsequent seven days, the household checked their home a number of instances. They checked their neighborhood, close by communities and the Jordan River that runs behind their house.
Clark mentioned the household even enlisted associates and prolonged household within the seek for Galena.
Galena, the 6 yr outdated quick hair, days after surviving her mistaken journey to California.
(Carrie Clark)
For a whole week, the distraught Clark household wept over their misplaced cat. They’d began to surrender hope once they bought a textual content message and cellphone name from an out-of-state veterinary workplace on April 17.
The individual on the opposite finish of the road mentioned they’d scanned Galena’s microchip and located the Clarks’ data. Their cat was in California.
“I used to be in shock. I didn’t imagine her,” Clark mentioned.
The veterinarian handed the cellphone to Brandy Hunter, the Amazon Warehouse employee within the buyer returns division in Riverside who helped rescue Galena.
“We like Brandy, and we’re going to be endlessly grateful for what she did for our cat,” Clark mentioned.
Hunter couldn’t be reached for remark.
In a three-part Fb submit, Hunter mentioned her coworker known as her to say that they discovered a cat inside a return package deal. The adhesive on one of many field’s seals had come unglued, permitting for extra airflow for Galena.
“My co-worker didn’t know what to do, so naturally … she known as me the loopy cat girl,” Hunter wrote on Fb.
Hunter packed up her cat service, a blanket, cat meals and water and drove to work to catch Galena. She took her to the veterinary’s workplace the next day. The submit mentioned Galena didn’t hesitate to get into Hunter’s service. She drank water however wouldn’t eat.
“We’re actually happy Brandy was capable of assist Galena reunite along with her household,” mentioned Alisa Carroll, a spokesperson for Amazon.
Clark and her husband booked a flight for California the subsequent day to reunite with their furry member of the family.
“It was like a rescue mission and we bought to have this large reunion with Galena and meet [Hunter],” Clark mentioned.
Apart from gentle dehydration and somewhat weight reduction, Galena was wholesome.
