Johnny Depp, Amber Heard at court hearing over dogs Pistol and Boo

As Johnny Depp’s wife Amber Heard escapes a conviction for failing to declare her dogs, the couple release a video apology | WATCH

Hollywood actress Amber Heard has escaped conviction for failing to declare her dogs when visiting husband Johnny Depp in Australia last April.

Instead, the 29-year-old will enter a one-month good behaviour bond following her guilty plea for producing a false document.

Magistrate Bernadette Callaghan told Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast a conviction was not necessary, because Heard did not believe she had to declare Pistol and Boo on her incoming passenger card. She said Heard was genuinely remorseful over the matter, and a conviction could affect her ability to work and travel overseas.

Ms Callaghan said a video recorded by Heard and Depp yesterday, in which she apologises and calls for Australian quarantine laws be respected, was more useful for the country than any punishment she could order.

Earlier, Heard’s lawyers told the court that she was deeply remorseful for bringing Pistol and Boo into Australia without declaring them last April.

Two quarantine-related charges were this morning dropped, after Heard admitted to falsely producing information on her incoming passenger card, in which she didn’t declare the couple’s Yorkshire Terriers.

She and Depp went as far as filming a bizarre short video, in which she apologised and the pair stressed the importance of Australia’s quarantine laws.

The script was cleared in advance by the Agriculture Department, her barrister Jeremy Kirk told the court before having the film played.

“Australia is a wonderful island, with a treasure trove of unique plants, animals and people,” Heard, 29, says in the video.

Depp says “it has to be protected”, and that “when you disrespect Australian law, they will tell you firmly.”

Heard apologises in the video, saying “I am truly sorry that Pistol and Boo were not declared. Protecting Australia is important.”

Depp ends the video saying: “Declare everything when you enter Australia.”

Barnaby Joyce promptly put the video on his Facebook page.

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp arrive at the Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast. Picture: AAP.

The court has heard that Heard was of the false belief that her staff or her husband’s had organised all necessary paperwork to allow the dogs to enter Australia, Mr Kirk said.

She also believed that she should not declare the animals on an incoming passenger card if there was other documentation given to officers for the pets.

Peter Callaghan, for the prosecution, said it was possible that Heard had been distracted when she arrived in Brisbane on April 21 last year, but “the completion of these forms is an individual’s responsibility”.

“Insufficient attention was paid to the requirements,” Mr Callaghan told the court.

“The rules apply to everyone.”

Magistrate Bernadette Callaghan has adjourned the matter until 2.30pm, when she plans to sentence Heard.