Cat stuck in quarantine for almost two years at cost to owners of almost $50,000

A much-loved cat trying to get to Brisbane from Europe has endured almost two years in Australian mandated quarantine, at a cost to his owners of almost $50,000, and he’s still yet to be released.

Garfield the cat has been in quarantine since January 2022. Credit: GoFundMe

A much-loved cat from Bulgaria who has endured almost two years in Australian mandated quarantine which has cost his parents almost $50,000 is still yet to be released.

Garfield, the four-year-old Siberian cat who began his quarantine journey to Brisbane in Bulgaria before being shipped to Melbourne, has been forced to restart the process after his vaccination records failed to enable his release.

A family member has now started a GoFundMe page asking for $50,000 worth of donations to reunite the cat with his owners Luba and Tony Akkira.

“This boy and his new family have been in heartbreaking limbo for far too long, constantly facing disappointment from a flawed and harsh bureaucracy and a series of unfortunate misunderstandings, all of which were out of their hands,” GoFundMe organiser Antonie Akkira said.

“All Garfield wants is a permanent, comfy home with his doting family who will cherish him and take care of him the way he so richly deserves.”

In Melbourne, after nearly five months in solitude, the Australian Government issued a notice of intention to destroy “goods”, meaning Garfield would have had to have been euthanised.

“The family could not bear the thought of having Garfield euthanased, understandably,” Mr Akkira said.

“Instead, they elected to have him revaccinated and rabies-tested in Australia, and then following yet more extensive (and expensive) planning, they had him flown back to Bulgaria.”

The money raised will go towards flying Garfield back to Melbourne, his quarantine and his flight to Brisbane.

“Please dig deep to assist this tenacious couple who have fought so brave and consistently for Garfield’s rights to life and his right to love, happiness and stability,” he said.