Australia’s acting like a dog with a bone over Johnny Depp’s pintsized terriers entering the country without permission this past spring.
After a seeming lull in the tensions, the doggedly determined Australian authorities have revived the controversy again by issuing an arrest warrant for Depp’s wife Amber Heard, who they charged on Tuesday with producing a false instrument and smuggling.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, prosecutors know for a fact she committed those offenses because, shortly after sneaking in Outback outlaws Pistol and Boo by private jet, Johnny Depp “was seen taking them to a poodle groomer.”
The absurd battle over the pair of photogenic pets is made all the more ridiculous when considering they did just as promptly leave the country, and well within the window of opportunity to do so without penalty of death.
Granted, Australia isn’t the only nation to require “all” dogs to be quarantined before entry, in order to prevent the spread of canine disease. But these two pooches are obviously healthy and the criminal counts against the 29-year-old actress/smuggler a bit excessive.
Amber Heard now faces up to ten years in prison over the matter, together with more than $80,000 in fines. However, she’s not in Australia anymore and, speaking on behalf of Boo and Pistol, has already weighed in on the legal standoff last month:
"I have a feeling we're going to avoid the Land Down Under from now on just as much as we can, thanks to certain politicians there,” Heard told Aussie TV reporters, adding "I guess everybody goes for their 15 minutes [of fame], including some government officials."
