The Corgi paused on the hard shoulder of a busy highway in north-east China, turned its stumpy legs around, and looked back. Six dogs were still following. Satisfied that no one had been left behind, the unlikely leader pressed on.

It was the middle of a 10.5-mile journey home — on foot, through traffic and across frozen fields — after seven dogs had chewed their way out of a cage on a meat trade truck in Changchun, Jilin province.

The escape, which took place on March 16, has since been viewed more than 230 million times on the Chinese social media platform Douyin. It is, by any measure, the feel-good story of the week.

The pack — a Corgi, a Golden Retriever, a Labrador, a German Shepherd, a Pekinese and two others — had been snatched from a village where they all lived and knew one another. According to the local rescue group Bitter Coffee Stray Dog Base, that familiarity explained their remarkable coordination during the trek.

"They resemble a band of little brothers in distress, moving in unison — nothing like stray dogs," said a motorist surnamed Lu, who filmed the group walking in tight formation along a highway guardrail and posted the footage to Douyin.

The video captured something that has moved millions: when the German Shepherd appeared to sustain an injury, the rest of the pack slowed down, closed ranks, and stayed close — protecting their companion as they continued.

At the front, the Corgi kept checking over its shoulder, apparently ensuring that every member of the group was still accounted for. Viewers have since anointed the little dog the leader of the expedition, drawing comparisons to everything from Homeward Bound to 101 Dalmatians.

"This needs to be a movie," wrote one commenter. "So brave of the Corgi to lead his fellow dogs back to their owners," said another.

Lu attempted several times to guide the dogs to safety, but the seven pressed on with a determination that suggested they knew exactly where they were going. In the end, he shared his footage online in the hope that authorities would intervene.

The Bitter Coffee Stray Dog Base responded by sending volunteers — and even a drone — to track the pack's progress and ensure their safe passage through the final stretch.

By March 18, two days after their escape, all seven dogs had made it home. Every one was reunited with its owner.

"We are so lucky they came back, not to be eaten," said one relieved owner, while another praised their Corgi's apparent ability to navigate the route home.

The dog meat trade remains legal in most of China, though the city of Shenzhen banned the consumption of cats and dogs in 2020. Dog theft is a criminal offence, but campaigners say the practice persists because stealing pets is cheaper than raising animals for food. Cities across the country's north-east, including Changchun, have reported numerous incidents of pets being taken from the streets.

Closer to home

The story resonates in Scotland, where dog theft has been a growing concern — and where the law has recently caught up with the crime.

In a statement, Nicola Strachan, Head of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships at the Scottish SPCA, called the new law "an incredible milestone for animal welfare in Scotland."

The Dog Theft (Scotland) Act 2026, passed earlier this year, makes dog theft a standalone criminal offence for the first time, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine. Theft of an assistance dog is treated as an aggravated offence.

"Dogs are sentient beings, not commodities that can easily be replaced," she said. "When a dog is stolen, the impact is devastating."

Seven dogs in China would, one suspects, agree.