Johnny Depp has been informed by the Australian government that he has until the end of the week to take his dogs out of the country or they will be "put down". And not just by telling the dogs that they've been very, very bad boys.   

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce issued the ultimatum, claiming that Depp failed to declare his two Yorkshire terriers, Boo and Pistol, when he flew into Queensland on his private jet. Australia has tough import laws to prevent the spread of animal disease and Joyce said that the two dogs had been "snuck in". Their cover was blown when star-struck staff photographed the dogs, rather than Depp, at a dog grooming salon.

Australian custom officials may find this image distressing

Joyce said that the dogs now faced the choice of either "buggering off back to the United States" or being euthanised. He added that the laws applied to everybody, even a movie star who has been voted "the sexiest man alive twice". It is not known whether Joyce thinks Ryan Gosling should have won.

Depp is in Australia to film the next installment of Pirates of the Caribbean, where the plot will be less gripping than the Yorkshire terrier's plight.