Seven stolen village dogs in northeastern China have captured widespread public attention after escaping captivity and travelling 17 kilometres back to their homes, prompting renewed debate over animal protection laws.

The incident was recorded on March 16 by a netizen surnamed Lu, who spotted the group walking along a busy highway in Changchun, Jilin province. The footage showed the dogs moving in a coordinated formation, with several surrounding an injured German shepherd while a Corgi repeatedly looked back to ensure none were left behind. The group also included Golden Retrievers, Labradors and Pekinese dogs.

Lu told mainland media, “They resemble a band of little brothers in distress, moving in unison – nothing like stray dogs.” Despite attempts to guide them to safety, the dogs continued on their path. The video was later shared online, attracting more than 230 million views.

A local stray dog rescue organisation reported that the animals came from the same village and were known to roam together. Volunteers, supported by drone tracking, were deployed to help guide the dogs home. A volunteer suggested the dogs may have been stolen by individuals linked to a dog meat shop and escaped during transport, although no witnesses confirmed this.

By March 19, all seven dogs had safely returned to their owners across three households. One owner said, “We are so lucky they came back, not to be eaten.”

Dog theft is a criminal offence in China, though the consumption of dog meat remains legal in most areas. Shenzhen was among the first mainland cities to ban the practice in 2020.