00:00Seven dogs stolen from a village in northeastern China
00:03have captivated millions online after they escaped thieves
00:06who had mistaken them for a dog meat restaurant
00:08and returned home together,
00:10fueling calls for stricter animal welfare laws.
00:13On March 16, a user named Lu captured the seven animals on his phone
00:18as they walked along a busy thoroughfare in Changchun, Jilin province.
00:23The video shows the group carefully surrounding an injured German shepherd
00:26while a corgi in the lead repeatedly turns to ensure no one is left behind.
00:31The group also included a golden retriever, a Labrador, and a Pekingese.
00:36According to a testimony collected by Day Daily
00:39and subsequently reprinted by numerous online publications,
00:43the dogs come from the same village where they typically roam freely in packs
00:47and have formed strong bonds with one another.
00:50Despite Lu's attempts to lead them to safety,
00:53the animals did not respond to his calls.
00:55The video was then uploaded to Doeen to prompt the intervention of local authorities.
01:00Another passerby filmed the dogs as they crossed nearby fields.
01:04Bitter Coffee Stray Dog Base, a local organization that cares for stray dogs,
01:09mobilized volunteers and even a drone to follow the group and ensure their safe return.
01:14Volunteers also reported that the dogs were stolen by people running a dog meat restaurant
01:19and may have escaped from a truck.
01:21However, there were no direct witnesses to the escape.
01:25that are just a lot of work where they were.