Fears dogs and cats could be put down because they're stuck in transit after Melbourne's COVID-19 shutdown cut off access to Australia's only pet quarantine facility
- New coronavirus lockdown restrictions left pets stranded overseas in transit
- Pets arriving from overseas must arrive in Melbourne for a minimum 10 day stay
- Many international flights to have been diverted or cancelled until further notice
- Cargo-only flight consisting of pets stranded in Doha, Qatar will arrive tonight
Pet owners hold grave fears for their beloved animals because they're stranded in transit from overseas due to Melbourne's strict new coronavirus shutdowns.
Virus hotspots across the city are in lockdown for the second time within weeks after an alarming spike in new infections with 289 cases recorded across Victoria in the last four days alone.
That includes 77 new cases on Wednesday, Victoria's biggest daily total since March 31.
Australia's only quarantine facility for cats and dogs is located in Melbourne's north, and international flights to the city have been diverted or cancelled until further notice.
A cargo-only flight consisting of pets stranded in Doha, Qatar is due to touch down in Melbourne on Thursday night.
Pets have been stranded in transit from overseas and can't arrive in Australia for quarantine due to ongoing coronavirus restrictions in Melbourne (stock image)
Cats and dogs arriving from overseas must undergo a minimum 10-day quarantine period at Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility before being reunited with their owners.
A quarantine stay at the facility starts from $2000.
Andrew Speers and his wife Ellen Tyrrell, who recently returned to Australia from London, haven't seen their beloved schnoodle Hilde in at least three months.
Hilde was already on her way to Melbourne for quarantine when the new lockdown was announced on Tuesday.
The dog is now stranded at Doha Airport's animal care facility in Qatar until further notice after her connecting flight to Melbourne was cancelled.
Her owners have pleaded for compassion, amid growing fears Hilde may be put down if she's stuck in Doha for an extended period.
'I think what's most disappointing about this to us is it feels like a mistake's been made to fix a mistake,' Mr Speers told the Age.
'Their immediate welfare is OK. But they're not designed to be long-term care facilities and [if] the animals keep building up ... it's going to reach a very critical point very soon.'
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Cats and dogs arriving from overseas must spend a minimum 10 days at Melbourne's Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility (pictured)
The couple have already forked out thousands on housing, flights and vaccinations to relocate Hilde.
'It's been a long and ongoing saga involving multiple airlines. We had a flight and it's been ripped away from us at the last minute,' Mr Speers said.
The Department of Agriculture has since told Daily Mail Australia a cargo-only flight with all pets stranded in Doha will arrive in Australia on Thursday night.
'The department has also received confirmation of a flight from the UK via Singapore with companion animals on board will also get here as expected,' a spokeswoman said.
'The department is taking all steps to ensure that alternative arrangements are made for animal imports during stage 3 COVID restrictions—particularly those that may have been caught in transit.'
A cargo-only flight loaded with pets stranded in Doha will arrive at Melbourne International Airport on Thursday night
The department said it is working to establish alternative arrangements for other pets that remain stranded overseas in transit.
The department acknowledged pet owners have experienced great difficulties in organising the transport of their animals from overseas during the ongoing pandemic.
'In order to ensure animal welfare and manage the significant biosecurity risks posed by international transport of animals, all animals destined for the quarantine facility at Mickleham must arrive directly into Melbourne Airport,' its website states.
'Animals cannot be transhipped to Melbourne on a domestic flight from another Australian port.
'The current COVID-19 pandemic does not change the existing risks posed by diseases of biosecurity concern to Australia or the need for cats and dogs to meet the import permit conditions in full.'
The Department of Agriculture says pet owners have experienced difficulties in organising the transport of their animals from overseas during the ongoing pandemic (stock image)
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