Johnny Depp’s dogs take flight from Australia

Johnny Depp’s dogs have fled Australia for the US after the Australian agriculture minister accused the Hollywood actor of sneaking the pups into the country.

An officer from the department of agriculture escorted Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo from Depp’s home, where they had been temporarily quarantined, to the airport, minister Barnaby Joyce said.

The tiny outlaws boarded a flight to California hours before a government-imposed deadline that the dogs leave Australia or be put down.

The hastily arranged departure came after Mr Joyce accused Depp of smuggling the dogs aboard his private jet when he returned to Australia on April 21st to resume filming of the fifth instalment in the Pirates Of The Caribbean film series at Gold Coast Studios.

Australia has strict quarantine regulations to prevent diseases such as rabies spreading to its shores. Taking pets into the country involves applying for a permit and a quarantine on arrival of at least 10 days.

The agriculture department told Depp and his wife, Amber Heard, on Wednesday that they had to send Pistol and Boo back to the US within 72 hours or the dogs would be put down.