Australian Authorities Threaten To Euthanize Johnny Depp's Yorkies Unless He Sends Them Packing
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Actor Johnny Depp is filming another installment of the mega-popular "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise in Australia.
Officials in Australia say it was Depp who pirated his two Yorkies, Pistol and Boo, into the country illegally via a private plane.
They want the dogs sent back as soon as possible or said they will euthanize the canines.
In addition, Depp faces jail time and a huge fine.
"Basically, it looks like he snuck them in. We found out he snuck them in because we saw him take them to a poodle groomer," Australia's Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said.
The groomer says the tiny dogs were a delight.
"Really well-behaved puppies and well-looked-after," said Lianne Kent.
Well-behaved or well-looked-after doesn't matter to the Aussies. Australian authorities are not splitting hairs when it comes to the law.. They said Depp filled out papers saying he was not bringing any animals into the country. Question 8 couldn't be plainer. Are you bringing animals into the country?
Depp, who turns 52 next month, said no.
Undeclared dogs are a quarantine risk. Officials want the dogs gone by Saturday.
"Mr. Depp has to either take his dogs back to California, or we're going to have to euthanize them," Joyce told reporters.
The threat touched off an instant firestorm on social media. An online petition to save Depp's dogs has gone viral. The petition on Change.org has more than 15,000 signatures.
While the public has clearly rallied around Depp, critics say the law is the law and no one is above the law.
"There's no doubt about that, the question is why weren't they declared?" asked former customs officer Bob Spanswich.
For providing false information on a customs report, CBS2's Juan Fernandez reported, Depp faces a fine ranging from $10,000 to $400,000. He also faces a 10-year prison sentence for what is called prohibitive import.
"If the law's broken then the matter needs to be addressed properly," Spanswich said.
Authorities in Australia seem unwavering in their resolve, despite the watchful eyes of social media.
"It's time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States," Joyce said.
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" is due in theaters in 2017.
