“This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.”
Australia takes it’s animal quarantine laws very seriously. So seriously that actor Johnny Depp could be facing up to 10 years in prison or a penalty of up to $340,000 for illegally bringing his dogs, two Yorkshire Terriers named Pistol and Boo, down under where he’s filming the latest in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Additionally, the pilot that flew Depp’s private jet could face two years in prison for his part in the illegal transport of undeclared animals into the country.
Importing dogs into Australia legally is about a 7-month process that includes microchipping, rabies and other general vaccinations, bloodwork, titre testing, health certifications, and parasite treatments performed on a strict schedule by government veterinarians. After the dogs are approved for entry into the country, they must then be quarantined for 10 days upon arrival before being allowed in the community.
Earlier this month, Pistol and Boo were flown back to the United States after Australia’s Agriculture Minister, Barnaby Joyce threatened to have the dogs seized and euthanized.
“Good luck to him, he’s a great actor and the sexiest man in the world and loves dogs and all this is marvelous – but he’s also got to obey the laws of our land,” Joyce said.
