Johnny Depp's dog ordeal sparks social media backlash

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The hashtag "War on terrier" is trending and thousands have signed a petition to save actor Johnny Depp's dogs as Australia reacts to Pistol and Boo's quarantine ordeal.

Depp's two Yorkshire terriers have been ordered into quarantine by the Australian government and Depp has been told to send them back to the US within three days.

Government officials discovered the pets at a Gold Coast property on Wednesday after their grooming at a nearby dog salon was made public.

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has said the pampered pets have to "bugger off" home to Hollywood or they will be put down.

Lianne Kent with Pistol (left) and Elly Kent with Boo.Credit: Happy Dogz Grooming Gold Coast

Depp arrived in Brisbane on his private jet last month with the two dogs in tow but failed to declare them with customs officials.

Now the media and the nation have responded to the whole puppy fiasco with concern and humour.

One clever Twitter user thought up the hashtag "#WarOnTerrier", which is being used rampantly across the social media site.

Meanwhile a change.org petition has been set up titled "Save Johnny Depp's dogs", with more than 2500 signatures and counting.

Johnny Depp with one of his Yorkshire Terriers.Credit: Pinterest

Newspaper The Guardian has even created a "dog death" countdown, ticking away the seconds until Boo and Pistol's doom (however unlikely that scenario remains).

Other highlights of the Twitter reaction include:

AAP, Fairfax Media