One lucky cat gets a fresh start in Miami after being smuggled onto an international cruise and facing the possibility of euthanasia.
Ovie, an unsuspecting cat, was found aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas on Nov. 18 after a guest allegedly smuggled her onto the cruise ship.
Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International, noted in a Facebook post Friday that the cat was “smuggled” onto the cruise, which had stops in Australia and New Zealand.
“We believe it was in the guest’s tracksuit and we assume he was sedated or something,” Bayley added of Ovie on social media.
Royal Caribbean took note of the cat after a crew member spotted it and “reported it to New Zealand authorities in accordance with their biosecurity protocols,” Royal Caribbean shared in a statement to PEOPLE on Thursday.
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“Royal Caribbean has been working with local authorities and the guest to see if the cat can be legally brought into the country,” the statement continued. “Unfortunately, due to federal regulations, that was not possible.”
Bayley wrote on Facebook that the cat was ultimately “not released from the ship by authorities in Australia or New Zealand and should have been euthanized.”
Still, Royal Caribbean has been working with authorities “to see what is possible” for Ovie, according to a company statement. “And after following local quarantine protocols, the cat was returned to the United States where we were able to find her a forever home.”
Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas cruise ship.
James D. Morgan/Getty
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“Our guest services team stepped up and after a few weeks and a lot of back and forth safely brought Ovie halfway around the world to be adopted by one of the guest services team in Miami,” Bayley wrote.
“Ovie is now living happily in Miami.”
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Royal Caribbean International states on its website that service dogs are welcome on ships, but the company “does not accept pets” on board.
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Source: HIS Education