When a staff member at the Yakima Humane Society in Yakima, Washington arrived at work one morning, he expected a routine, calm start to the last workday of the week.
As one employee arrived at the Yakima Humane Society (YHS), expecting an ordinary end-of-week shift, his plans were quickly interrupted. Sitting right by the shelter door was a sealed cardboard box labeled in bold letters “Keep Frozen: Contents Perishable.”
When more coworkers arrived, they froze at the sight. Sadly, such scenes are familiar, and too often they bring tragedy. The team feared what they might discover inside but carried the box indoors, determined to face whatever awaited them.
A Box That Hid A Surprise
Once inside, staff set the box on a small table and prepared to uncover what lay beneath the heavy tape.
One employee carefully sliced through the layers of duct tape while the others held their breath, dreading what they might see.
When he finally managed to cut off all the heavy duct tape that was sealing the box, he slowly began to open the layers. As the last strips of tape were removed and the flaps were peeled back, the room’s tension gave way to astonished smiles.
Peering up from the dim interior of the carton were two blinking, squinting eyes. It was a cat, and miraculously, she was alive and appeared alert.
“They were glad to see an adult cat who was alive!” Kelli Peal, YHS’s adoption manager, told The Dodo.
Those words barely captured the team’s relief. The staff exhaled, overwhelmed with gratitude that one small life had been spared, and the mood in the room shifted from dread to celebration.
Elsa Finds Comfort And Care
Shelter workers had no idea why anyone would leave the feline on their doorstep, but they suspected the cat had been abandoned by an owner during the night.
Anger at the cruel act mixed with an immediate outpouring of compassion when they looked into her innocent eyes. Because the box was labeled “Keep frozen”, the staff decided to give her a name inspired by that message, and called her Elsa, after the princess from the movie Frozen.
The team moved quickly to make Elsa comfortable. While waiting for the veterinary staff to arrive, they settled her in her own kennel and made sure she had access to food, water, and blankets to ward off the chill.
When the vets examined Elsa they found a developing wound on her side, fortunately one that was treatable. To protect her while she healed, the medical staff placed her in isolation and monitored her carefully.
During this recovery period, every member of the YHS team lavished Elsa with attention. Volunteers and staff alike offered gentle pets, soothing words, and the calm presence she needed to begin trusting again.
Before long, she had charmed the whole shelter community.
“Elsa is a staff favorite!” Peal said. “She is so loving and will vocalize and press up against her kennel for attention.”
As Elsa regained strength and the wound healed, the shelter prepared her for spay surgery so she could be cleared for adoption and ready to join a forever family.
Awaiting A New Beginning
Although staff felt a twinge of sadness anticipating her departure, their predominant feeling was joy, knowing their “frozen girl” would soon have a caring home. They were proud of how resilient she had been through the ordeal.
“She’s a wonderful cat who has been through a lot,” Peal said, “but she doesn’t seem shy at all and has no lingering effects from her abandonment.”
Then, to everyone’s delight, the best news arrived. While the shelter had not posted an official announcement, a staff member commented on the YHS Facebook post revealing that Elsa already had an adoption pending.
“Elsa has a pending adoption with an awesome family. ❤️,” Rachel Vincent wrote in the comment of the YHS Facebook post.
From the terrifying moment she was left in a taped box to the warm bed of care she found at the shelter, Elsa’s path transformed from peril to promise. With dedicated caregivers and a loving home on the horizon, she is ready to begin the next chapter of her life.
Good luck, Mrs. Frozen.