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Australia drops charges over Amber Heard
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard
The Hollywood couple have apologised for their actions.

Illegally took dogs into country with husband Johnny Depp
 
An Australian court has dropped charges against actress Amber Heard for illegally taking her dogs into the country.

Ms Heard, who is married to actor Johnny Depp, pleaded guilty to falsifying customs paperwork about her Yorkshire terriers, Pistol and Boo.

But the Queensland judge gave her a one-month good behaviour bond of $1,000 with no conviction and a glowing character assessment.

The Hollywood couple apologised for their actions in a video in which Amber says: “I am truly sorry that Pistol and Boo were not declared, protecting Australia is important.”

When Ms Heard first arrived in Brisbane by private jet last year (21 April) she ticked a box on her passenger arrival card which indicated that she did not have any animals.

The story hit the headlines after the couple visited a local grooming parlour, which subsequently posted a picture on Facebook.

Australia’s agriculture minister warned that the dogs would be euthanised unless they left the country within two days.

The dogs later returned to the US, but the couple were warned that if the case went to court, Amber could face up to 10 years in prison and a hefty fine.

Image (C) YouTube/Australian Government of Agriculture and Water Resources.

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

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BVA urges 'continued vigilance' over bluetongue

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has urged vigilance following a concerning rise in Bluetongue (BTV) cases in sheep and cattle.

In a recent statement, the BVA noted that members are reporting more severe clinical signs and higher mortality rates than in previous years.

'We know that farm vets are working hard to support farmers and animals affected by this outbreak, during what is an extremely difficult time for all involved,' they stated. 'Continued vigilance to identify disease early is vital and vaccination remains the best way of protecting animals from this disease.'