Australia gives Johnny Depp 50 hours to send his pet dogs back to the US or face having them killed

Johnny Depp has been told his two pet Yorkshire Terriers will be put down unless he sends them back to the US from Australia.

The 51-year-old film star, who is in Queensland filming his fifth Pirates of the Caribbean movie, has been issued the warning by the country's farm minister.

Last month, he flew in his Yorkshire terriers, Pistol and Boo, on his private jet, allegedly without declaring them to customs.

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said: "Mr Depp has to either take his dogs back to California or we're going to have to euthanise them.

"He's now got about 50 hours left to remove the dogs. He can put them on the same charter jet."

Mr Joyce said that he felt that the actor had "snuck" the animals into the country.

"He has decided to bring in to our nation two dogs without actually getting the proper certification and proper permits required. It basically looks like he snuck them in."

He added that the Hollywood star's fame does not mean he can sidestep Australia's tough animal import laws.

"In my view, he’s a great actor; Jack Sparrow, wonderful... but this is not an excuse for breaking our laws.

"We rely on people being honest ... most reasonable people say, ‘I do have a couple of dogs, I’d better put that on the piece of paper."

A tip-off led government officials to Depp's rented house yesterday, after the dogs were seen heading to grooming salon Happy Dogz.