Skip to content
  • Happy Health
  • Happy Mindset
  • Animal Wonders
  • About Us
    • Team
  • Subscribe
Menu
  • Happy Health
  • Happy Mindset
  • Animal Wonders
  • About Us
    • Team
  • Subscribe
Happy News

NYC Backpack Adventure That Saves Shelter Dogs Every Week

Bryan Reisberg discovered that his Corgi named Maxine had a magical ability to cheer people up during their daily commutes underground in New York City, transforming serious faces into smiles and making heavy loads feel lighter simply by staring at subway riders from inside a backpack. The NYC resident started posting videos of his urban adventures with Maxine on social media where she quickly became a viral sensation known as “the dog in the backpack” all over the world, accumulating millions of views and prompting Reisberg to quit his job and create a dog backpack brand called Little Chonk. When a friend suggested using his platform to help homeless shelter dogs, Reisberg partnered with Best Friends Animal Society to create a weekly program where he picks up a shelter dog, takes it into the city in a backpack with an “Adopt Me” label attached, and shoots professionally polished videos that turn abandoned pets into social media superstars with content that has surpassed 75 million views. Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, calls Reisberg a hero to both the dogs and shelter staff, noting that his visits provide a massive morale boost and his channels have influenced adoptions in remarkable ways.

All 11 dogs featured so far have been adopted except for one with ongoing medical problems, and even more impressively, adoptions at the shelter have increased substantially with about 100 more dogs adopted compared to the same time last year, likely due to the backpack videos. One recent Instagram video featured Bertha, a six-year-old bulky white dog weighing 65 pounds who rode piggyback through Queens, traveled on the subway, gave slobbery kisses, and captured hearts across both New York City and the internet with commenters predicting her happily ever after was coming soon. Reisberg shared the good news shortly afterward that Miss Bertha was adopted by a lovely family on Long Island with a nice big house, prompting Instagram users to cry happy tears and celebrate this perfect way to get the word out about beautiful souls that are alone and need love. What started as a Corgi cheering up stressed commuters has transformed into a powerful adoption machine proving that your best friend might be waiting for you in a shelter and you don’t even realize it yet.

PrevPreviousThe Cop That Quit To Help People On The Streets
NextScientists Taught Brains A New Language Using LightNext

Recent Articles

Happy News

This Award Show Is Finally Returning Soon

February 7, 2026

Billboard Women in Music is returning in 2026 to celebrate another year of women’s excellence in the music industry, with the annual awards show taking place at The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles to recognize the bold vision, global influence and artistic excellence of women transforming music across all genres.

Read More
Happy News

McDonald’s Brings Back Most Requested Happy Meal Toy

February 7, 2026

McDonald’s announced it is bringing back the Changeables Happy Meal featuring nostalgic toys originally launched in 1987 that transform from McDonald’s menu items like French fries into robots and dinosaurs, marking the return of what the company calls “the most requested” Happy Meal toy from the past. The Changeables officially

Read More
Happy News

Fourth Graders Get Music Lesson From Rihanna’s Husband

February 7, 2026

A$AP Rocky headed back to a Harlem elementary school to teach kids a thing or two about rap for the Wednesday episode of Celebrity Substitute, where Mr. Mayers’ class was in session and fourth graders got a crash course in hip hop from one of the neighborhood’s most famous success

Read More
« Previous Next »
  • Privacy Notice
  • Accessibility Notice
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Unsubscribe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Notice
  • Accessibility Notice
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Unsubscribe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2026 HappyNews.