Johnny Depp Rescues His Dogs from Being Euthanized By Australian Authorities Via Private Jet

Johnny Depp has flown his two dogs to safety just hours after the Australian authorities threatened to euthanize them.

TMZ is reporting that the 51-year-old actor was able to get his Yorkshire Terriers, Boo and Pistol, on a private jet to the U.S on Friday afternoon, Australian time, just one day before they would be killed.

"PETA is not at all surprised that Johnny and Amber, who clearly love their animals very much, have arranged to transport their dogs back to the United States safely. It sounds pretty heavy-handed to fine people for trying to include every member of their family in their travel plans," PETA Senior VP Lisa Lange said to E! News.

Depp and his wife Amber Heard were warned by the country's Minister of Agriculture that their dogs would be killed Saturday because the actors had violated the country's animal import laws. The minister, Barnaby Joyce accused the actor of smuggling his dogs into the country via his private plane.

 "There is a process if you want to bring animals: you get the permits, they go into quarantine and then you can have them," Joyce explained on Australia's ABC radio. "But if we start letting movie stars-even though they've been the Sexiest Man Alive twice-to come into our nation [and break the laws], then why don't we just break the laws for everybody? It's time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States. Just because he's Johnny Depp doesn't make him exempt from Australian laws."

He added, "The way this works is if we are going to make an excuse for Johnny Depp because he's got a private jet and brought in his dogs then I suppose you have to start making exemptions and excuses for everybody. The reason you can walk through a park in Brisbane and not have in the back of your mind, 'What happens if a rabid dog comes out and bites me or bites my kid?' is because we've kept that disease out. I'll tell you how close it is: it's in Bali, it's just next door. So this is not fanciful stuff, and therefore we're very diligent about what comes into our nation."

Depp and Heard arrived in Oz last month with the two dogs. They never declared either pooch and did not enter the country with any permits. According to Australian law, all animals entering the country must have a permit. After applying and receiving one, pet owners have to declare their pets. The animals are then quarantined for at least 10 days before they are allowed into the nation.

Although Depp was able to save his dogs, he will reportedly pay a hefty fine. Depp and Heard have not commented about this situation.