A delivery driver who went viral after being caught on camera throwing a package at a family’s pet cat has returned to their home to apologize following widespread backlash.
The incident occurred on October 25 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where a 21-pound black cat named Opie was enjoying some sunshine on his owner’s front porch.
However, Ring doorbell footage showed a driver delivering a package for GOFO appearing to deliberately throw a bag at Opie, striking the unsuspecting animal before seemingly smirking and taking photos of the delivery.
The footage went viral, sparking concern from cat lovers.
Speaking to WAVY, Opie’s owner, Isabell Sump, said her cat had done absolutely nothing to provoke the driver.
“He’s typically a very carefree cat,” she explained. “He doesn’t bother anybody unless they give him a reason, and he wasn’t doing anything. He picked his head up and then next thing you know, he’s getting hit with a package.”
The incident is the latest involving delivery drivers and cats. Earlier this year, an Amazon driver was caught taking a family’s cat from their porch, later claiming the animal was actually his missing pet.
Delivery driver apologizes after viral cat video sparks backlash
Following the video’s spread across social media, the driver returned to her house and apologized for his actions.
“Cats make me uneasy,” the driver said through a translation app.
“I came to apologize to the person. To show my face, because I’m telling you, I’m not someone who likes trouble, let alone cats.”
Despite the apology, Sump questioned why the driver targeted Opie in the first place, arguing that he could have simply left the package elsewhere if he was uncomfortable approaching the cat.
“He wasn’t bothering a soul, you could have put it at the bottom of the steps. You didn’t have to throw it at him, laugh and point at him,” she said during the confrontation
“Like, why did you do that? He didn’t do anything to you,” she said.
“If you were scared of him, you could have left the package in the yard, and we would come get it. There’s no need to harm the animals.”
Sump also expressed concern about the timing of the incident, explaining that black cats are sometimes mistreated around Halloween due to superstitions surrounding the animals.
GOFO has since contacted Sump and launched an investigation into the driver’s conduct. However, the owner previously said she intended to pursue criminal charges once the individual was identified.
It remains unclear if the driver will face disciplinary or legal action.
The incident follows another case in January, when an Amazon driver in England was caught taking a family’s cat during a delivery. Fortunately, that animal was eventually recovered and returned home.
