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Seven dogs led home by a Corgi dubbed 'Big Fatty' have captured global attention after trekking miles together across China - sparking calls for their real-life adventure to be turned into a film.
The animals moved as a tight-knit pack, trotting along a highway in Changchun, Jilin province, with 'Big Fatty' repeatedly turning back to check none were left behind.
For two days, the dogs stuck together as they made their way back across the freezing landscape, crossing open ground and skirting busy roads on their journey home.
Clips of the group racked up more than 230million views online as the story quickly took on a life of its own.
On social media, comparisons were drawn to adventure classics like The Great Escape and Homeward Bound, as viewers said the scenes looked ready-made for the big screen.
'Need the animated movie version of this,' wrote filmmaker Matthew A. Cherry on X. Another commentator added: 'Pixar, I'm looking at you to make this a movie.' Others joked the dogs' journey resembled a real-life Paw Patrol.
The group - including a German shepherd, Golden Retrievers, Labradors and a Pekingese -surrounded an injured companion as they made their way along the road in what viewers described as a 'band of brothers'.
Many were moved by the way the dogs stayed together and refused to leave an injured companion behind.
Seven dogs whose extraordinary journey home went viral have sparked calls for their story to be turned into a film
Social media users compared the real-life tale to adventure classics like The Great Escape and Homeward Bound, saying the scenes looked ready-made for the big screen
The footage sparked widespread concern, with many fearing the dogs had been snatched after claims they had escaped from a truck linked to a dog meat shop.
But the heartwarming tale that gripped millions was not quite what it first seemed.
Local officials later said the animals had wandered off on their own, likely following a German Shepherd that was on heat.
The dogs, owned by three households in the same village, had been reported missing, prompting volunteers to launch a search using drones and door-to-door enquiries amid freezing temperatures.
All seven later made their way back home between March 18 and 19, reuniting with their owners after travelling around ten miles, according to early reports.
One owner said his German shepherd and Golden retriever had returned safely, adding: 'We are so lucky they came back, not to be eaten,' reflecting earlier fears.
Another praised her Corgi, 'Big Fatty', saying his intelligence helped lead the group back.
Some netizens joked that the dogs' adventure could be turned into a film, or a real life version of Paw Patrol, a Canadian cartoon for children about a boy and his pack of rescue dogs.
'Watching this made me want to cry. Dogs are humans' friends forever,' wrote one Weibo user.
One person wrote: 'Their journey could be the premise for a movie. The Golden Retriever positioned itself closest to traffic to shield the others.
'The Corgi kept checking back to ensure no one was left behind. The German shepherd, showing natural leadership, remained central like a general.'
Pictured: An AI image inspired by the story
Others joked the dogs' journey resembled a real-life Paw Patrol, as clips of the group racked up more than 230million views online
Authorities in Jilin said the incident showed how quickly online speculation can spread, after unverified claims about theft were widely shared
Another added: 'Dogs exemplify loyalty to their companions; humans who harm them show far less humanity.'
A third said: 'Dogs are our most devoted friends and deserve protection and nurturing. It is crucial to establish an animal protection law as soon as possible,' added a third.
In China, dog theft is a criminal offence, with penalties including fines or imprisonment depending on the animal's value.
Chinese law does not explicitly prohibit the consumption of dog meat, although Shenzhen became one of the first mainland cities to ban the eating of cats and dogs in 2020.
Despite the controversy, some dog meat restaurants still operate in northern China.
During the long, harsh winters, some locals believe eating dog meat provides warmth and sustenance.
The Dalian Animal Protection Association said dog farms are rare because raising dogs is costly.
For many traders, stray animals and stolen pets are the cheapest and easiest source of meat.
Cities including Changchun, Harbin and Dalian have reported numerous cases of pet dogs being stolen.