Johnny Depp’s pet dogs dodged the threat of being put down by Australian authorities earlier this year, but his wife, actress Amber Heard, is now facing criminal charges over the canine controversy.
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A report at The Guardian says that the issue escalated after Heard is reportedly charged with two counts of illegally smuggling the dogs into Australia, and another count of document falsification, according to the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions. This week, Heard has been summoned by prosecutors to appear at a magistrates’ court in the state of Queensland on September 7, according to CNN.
Depp, who was in Australia to film the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie, acted quickly to get Pistol and Boo out of the country.
Australia has a strict policy about bringing animals into the country, requiring a permit and 10-day quarantine aimed at preventing the importation and spread of diseases. Boo and Pistol are understood to have arrived in the country on Depp’s private jet in April this year.
The dogs’ presence in Australia remained a secret until they were photographed at a grooming salon, to which was a victory for Joyce. Mr Joyce said at the time.
The couple drew global attention last May when the Australian Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce ordered the dogs returned to the United States or face death.
The dogs left the country unharmed a few days later. A Department of Agriculture officer later escorted the tiny terriers from the couple’s mansion on Queensland’s Gold Coast to the airport, where they boarded a flight to the US just hours before the deadline. The document charge is related to allegations that Heard improperly filled out an incoming passenger card. “The law is the same for everybody”, he said. In fact, he was criticized by the way he handled the case.
And at the time, the actress dismissed the case, insisting it was just politicians trying “to go for their 15 minutes [of fame]”.
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In an interview, Heard said she and her husband will avoid Australia in the future because of this incident. It not known whether Ms Heard will appear to answer the charges in person.
