China's Viral '7 Stolen Dogs' Story Turns Out To Be Fake. Here's What Really Happened

A widely shared video showing a group of seven dogs walking along a highway in northeastern China has captivated millions online, but the dramatic story attached to it has now been proven false. The clip, filmed in Jilin province on March 15, quickly went viral on Chinese platforms such as Douyin and Weibo before spreading to TikTok, Instagram, and X. Social media users claimed the dogs had been stolen for the illegal dog-meat trade and had escaped from a transport vehicle, travelling a long distance together in an effort to find their way home. The imagined narrative painted the animals as a heroic group, featuring a golden retriever, an injured German shepherd and a corgi leading the pack. Many users compared the story to the 1993 film Homeward Bound, while AI-generated posters and trailers further fuelled the tale.