Amber Heard isn't rolling over on dog-smuggling charges in Australia - Los Angeles Times
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Amber Heard isn’t rolling over on dog-smuggling charges in Australia

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard attend the Los Angeles premiere of "The Danish Girl" in Westwood on Nov. 21.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard attend the Los Angeles premiere of “The Danish Girl” in Westwood on Nov. 21.

(Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images)
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Amber Heard is preparing for a dog fight.

Remember the big deal in May when Johnny Depp’s bride allegedly brought their dogs Pistol and Boo into Australia via private jet without asking permission? On her way to hang out with her hubby, who was filming the fifth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie?

Well, the Yorkies have come home to roost, in a matter of speaking, and the star of “The Danish Girl” is standing her ground: She’s declared her intention to plead not guilty to a couple of charges of improperly importing animals into the debatably-not-an-island nation, plus a charge of falsifying a document -- her passenger arrival card.

You know, the thing on which you declare things such as canine critters, which in Australia have to be permitted and then quarantined for at least 10 days upon arrival. Because there’s no rabies in Australia, nor is rabies desired.

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“Whilst I am unable to comment on the specific matters before the Court I would like to say that I respect the importance of Australia’s laws,” Heard, 29, said in a statement released Monday by her lawyer and obtained by NBC News. “My decision to defend these charges, as will become apparent in the appropriate forum of the Court, is not intended in any way to diminish the importance of Australia’s laws.”

Whilst? Kinda fancy for a Texas girl.

The Queensland court case, which had a hearing scheduled for Monday, will be taken up again on Dec. 15, according to E! News. Heard was a no-show Monday as well as on Nov. 2, when the case was initially put off, the Sydney Morning Herald said, so that her attorneys could have further discussions with the Aussie equivalent of the D.A.’s office.

Back in May, Minister of Agriculture Barnaby Joyce spun up all the drama when he threatened to euthanize the dogs if they weren’t bounced from Australia within 72 hours.

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“If we start letting movie stars, even if they’ve been ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ twice, to come into our nation [with unauthorized pets], then why don’t we just break the laws for everybody,” he said at the time. “It’s time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States. After that, I don’t expect to be invited to the opening of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’”

Heard was charged in July. She faces up to 10 years in prison and $100,000 in fines, the Morning Herald said.

Follow Christie D’Zurilla on Twitter @theCDZ and Google+. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter @LATcelebs

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