An alpaca that faces being destroyed after testing positive for bovine tuberculosis has been given a temporary reprieve, the animal’s vet has said. The government had twice turned down requests to save Geronimo, but Dr Iain McGill said the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) had now agreed to a hearing with owner Helen Macdonald. “Defra lawyers accept Helen Macdonald’s legal application for material non-disclosure,” he said. “Hearing date awaited, but Geronimo safe for now, though Defra only saying they won’t kill him today. Shameful.” Geronimo has twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis but MacDonald, who breeds alpacas at her farm in south Gloucestershire, has insisted the tests are unreliable and the animal is healthy. She has asked for more testing to be done but lost her final appeal at the high court earlier this month. The case has attracted an outpouring of public support, with 130,000 people signing a petition calling on Boris Johnson to overturn the ruling on destroying the alpaca. The PA news agency reported that court officials confirmed a judge had not yet considered a case lodged with the high court. A Defra spokesperson confirmed there were no plans to execute the warrant today. “We are sympathetic to Ms Macdonald’s situation, just as we are with everyone with animals affected by this terrible disease,” they said. “It is for this reason that the testing results and options for Geronimo have been very carefully considered by Defra, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and its veterinary experts, as well as passing several stages of thorough legal scrutiny.” They said the disease was “one of the greatest animal health threats we face today”, damaged livelihoods and cost the taxpayer £100m each year. “While nobody wants to cull infected animals, we need to do everything we can tackle this disease to stop it spreading and to protect the livelihoods of those affected.” While the government says it has considered the case carefully, MacDonald has argued it needs to be looked at more closely and has repeatedly asked for the attention of the environment secretary, George Eustice. Geronimo first tested positive four years ago but MacDonald has said the animal is perfectly healthy. She and supporters have created a “human shield” around her farm, aiming to prevent authorities from carrying out the order and a webcam was set up for the public to watch over the alpaca.