Watch as seven dogs trek 10 miles home to reunite with desperate owners after they ‘were stolen for illegal meat trade’

This is the shocking moment a pack of seven missing pet dogs are paraded along a busy highway after apparently being stolen for the illegal meat trade.

The shaggy pack traveled more than 10 miles together before finally being reunited with their desperate owners.

The animals were seen moving in a tight group along a road in Changchun, the capital of northeast China’s Jilin province, in images that quickly went viral online.

The video, first posted online on March 15, shows the dogs – including a golden retriever, a Labrador, a German shepherd and a Pekingese – walking along the highway as nighttime temperatures dropped below freezing.

Leading the group was a corgi later identified in Chinese media as Dapang, meaning “big fat.”

The footage showed the dogs moving in formation, with several appearing to protect an injured German shepherd who was limping.

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The corgi in the front turned around several times as if checking to make sure the others were still following him.

A golden retriever could also be seen walking along the outer edge of the group as if keeping watch.

The clip was recorded on March 16 by a passerby surnamed Lu, who spotted the animals traveling together along the Changshuang Expressway.

He then shared the video on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and called for help from local authorities.

Lu told mainland Chinese media outlet Dahe Daily: “They look like a bunch of little brothers in distress, moving in unison – nothing like stray dogs. »

He said he tried several times to guide the animals to safety, but they ignored his calls.

As the video spread online, volunteers and animal welfare groups began searching for the dogs.

A volunteer at a local stray dog ​​rescue center called Tong Tong said she started knocking on doors in nearby villages and posting flyers about missing dogs after seeing the images because

She said she feared for the welfare of the animals due to the freezing weather.

Tong Tong said in a video released by the rescue center: “On the morning of March 18, I woke up to find that it was snowing in Changchun.

“I was particularly worried about the seven dogs, fearing they had not eaten or drunk anything.

“So I borrowed a drone and went looking for them. »

Volunteers also deployed a drone to try to track the animals’ movements and guide them back home.

The dogs were eventually traced to three homes in a nearby village.

Reports indicate that the animals were all neighbors in the same village and roamed together after forming a close bond.

Three of the dogs, including Dapang, belonged to a woman who had been desperately searching for them for four days.

She told Chinese media that she had almost given up hope when the corgi suddenly returned to her home on March 18.

She then searched nearby villages and discovered that the remaining dogs had been taken in by another villager.

On March 19, volunteers confirmed that all seven dogs had been reunited with their owners.

Reports suggest the animals traveled for almost two days while covering the 10 miles back.

One owner, who was looking for a German Shepherd and a Golden Retriever, said: “We are so lucky they came back, so they wouldn’t be eaten. »

Initial reports circulating online claimed the dogs may have been stolen from three homes and destined for the illegal dog meat trade before escaping.

Some suggested the animals had escaped from a cage and jumped from a moving truck transporting them along the highway.

In China, dog theft is considered a criminal offense, although cases involving stolen animals have been reported in cities including Changchun, Harbin and Dalian.

Dog farms are relatively rare due to the high cost of raising animals, meaning stray dogs and stolen animals are sometimes seen as a cheaper alternative for meat suppliers.

A small number of dog meat restaurants also continue to operate in parts of northern China, where some believe that eating dog meat helps them endure harsh winters.

However, officials later said they could not confirm these claims.

On March 21, the Jilin Provincial Culture and Tourism Bureau confirmed that the viral clip was authentic.

But authorities said they believe the animals ran away on their own after being dragged away by a German shepherd in heat who was known to disappear for days at a time.

The remarkable story has sparked huge debate online, with the original footage viewed more than 230 million times on Chinese social media.

Some users even joked that the dogs’ adventure could be made into a movie or a real-life version of Paw Patrol, the Canadian children’s cartoon about a boy and his pack of rescue dogs.

One Weibo user wrote: “Watching this made me want to cry. Dogs are humans’ friends forever.”

Others also shared their reactions.

One wrote: “Oh my goodness, this is the kind of story that restores a little faith.

“These dogs experienced something terrifying and, instead of breaking down, they pulled together, trusted each other and found their way home like a little family.

“Led by this little corgi too…I can’t even stand how sweet that is. It just goes to show how loyal, intelligent, and deeply connected animals are – they don’t give up or leave each other behind. Honestly, they’re better than most humans at times like this.”

Another joked: “Meanwhile, humans get lost with Google Maps, a full tank of gas, and keep calling AAA. But a corgi drives 6 friends 17 miles on highways like it’s nothing. We really are the inferior species in this world.”

A third added: “Seven dogs, 17km. Led by a corgi. It’s not just a story of animals finding their way home; it’s loyalty, leadership and a pure heart on four legs.”

“Imagine being kidnapped, scared, and continuing to travel together to find the people who love you. Meanwhile, humans get lost in their own neighborhood. Courage, coordination, connection…that’s it. following level. Someone give this corgi a medal, please.

A fourth said: “Think about the communication involved. Seven different dogs from seven different homes decided: ‘We’ll stay together until everyone is safe.’ “It’s better teamwork than most corporate offices can handle. Glad to see they got home safe.”