No war on two terriers: Macfarlane

There is no war on two terriers, says a federal MP who has backed Agricultural Minister Barnaby Joyce's handling of the Johnny Depp doggy drama.

The Hollywood star's Yorkshire terriers have until Saturday to leave the country or face being put down after illegally entering Australia.

Mr Joyce has said not even Depp, twice named the sexiest man alive, is immune to the country's customs laws, so pooches Pistol and Boo must "bugger off" back home.

The minister has come under fire for his handling of the canine case, with "war on terrier" trending on Twitter and radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands calling him an "absolute joke".

But Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane says the illegal canine cargo is no laughing matter.

"I don't think we declared war on two terriers," Mr Macfarlane said in Gladstone.

"We've given the owner of the dogs the option of taking them out of the country and bringing them back in if he so wishes through a proper process ... you cannot have exceptions if you want to keep diseases and pests out of this country."

Mr Joyce says Pistol and Boo are preparing to fly on a private jet back to the United States on Friday night.