Johnny Depp's wife skips court mention over dog-smuggling

Johnny Depp's wife was absent once again during a mention over her dog-smuggling charges on Monday (Nov 16).

Amber Heard, 29, had allegedly brought the Pirates of the Caribbean star's two Yorkshire terriers, Pistol and Boo, into Australia on a private jet in May this year, without declaring them to customs, reported the Guardian.

Heard was charged with two counts of breaching Australia's quarantine laws after Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce became aware of the dogs, which were spotted being taken to a groomer.

A photo of Depp's dogs being groomed in a shop in the Gold Coast. PHOTO: HAPPY DOGZ GROOMING

The minister then made headlines after threatening to put down the dogs if they weren't taken out of the country within 50 hours.

Australia's strict quarantine regulations have prevented diseases such as rabies form spreading to its shores, according to Washington Post. Owners have to apply for a permit and put their pets on quarantine upon arrival for at least 10 days.

Heard returned to the United States with the dogs soon after the incident and did not appear in any of her court mentions so far.

She had spoken out during a press conference to promote her movie, Magic Mike XXL, on Australia's Sunrise TV Show: "I have a feeling we're going to avoid the land down under from now on, just as much as we can, thanks to certain politicians there."

The minister responded to some members of the public who felt he had put Australia in a bad light:

“The law is the same for everybody," he said. "There is no preferential treatment here. You come into our nation, you have to abide by biosecurity protocols.”

Heard's appearance was excused on Monday after barrister Paula Morreau told the court that she "had been in conversations with" the prosecutors.

The matter had been adjourned to Dec 7.

Sources: The Guardian, The Washington Post