Johnny Depp's dogs Pistol and Boo are preparing to flee Australia for the United States after the country's agriculture minister angrily accused the Hollywood actor of sneaking the pups into the country.

Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce said today that he was told the Yorkshire terriers were preparing to return to the US aboard a private jet. The government told the actor he had until Saturday to get his dogs out of the country or they would be put down.

The row started when Joyce accused Depp of smuggling the dogs aboard his private jet when he returned to Australia on April 21 to resume filming of the fifth instalment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

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