Seven dogs made global headlines after completing a 17-kilometre journey home in Jilin, China. The video, filmed on March 16, has gained hundreds of millions of views online.
The dogs included a Corgi, a German Shepherd, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and a Pekingese. They are believed to have escaped from a dog meat transport vehicle. They were reportedly stolen from the same village. The dogs were known to roam together there.
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The journey
As per the video, Lu, a resident, spotted and filmed the dogs walking along a busy highway in Changchun. What caught his attention was their tight, disciplined formation. A Corgi named DĂ PĂ ng ("Big Fat") led the group, pausing repeatedly to check on the others. At the centre was an injured German Shepherd, surrounded and protected by the rest.
"They resemble a band of little brothers in distress, moving in unison - nothing like stray dogs," Lu told Dahe Daily.
According to the report of Wion, Lu tried to redirect them away from traffic, but the dogs ignored him. He posted the video on Douyin, asking for help. Another bystander later filmed them moving through nearby fields, suggesting the journey was already well underway.
Seven dogs stolen from their owners have gone viral after escaping from an illegal transport truck and making their way home.
â ĂÂĂÂoĆĂÂŽgĆĂÂŽ (@Yoda4ever) March 23, 2026
They traveled around 17 km together, led by a corgi across highways and fields, now safely back with their respective owners..ĂÂöĂÂĂ„ĂÂșĂÂĂ€¯Ă pic.twitter.com/H5VB9BQkGB
Safe return
Local volunteers helped after the video went viral. According to an SCMP report citing the Bitter Coffee Stray Dog Base, all seven dogs reached home on March 19, three days after being spotted. They belonged to three different households.
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One owner, whose German Shepherd and Golden Retriever were among the group, said: "We are so lucky they came back, not to be eaten."
Dog theft is common in cities like Changchun, Harbin, and Dalian in northern China. Animal groups say stolen pets and strays are often used in the dog meat trade. Under Chinese law, pet theft can lead to fines or jail. However, there is no nationwide ban on dog meat. Shenzhen was one of the first cities to ban it in 2020. The incident has renewed calls for stronger animal protection laws across China.
