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 New Underwater Fossil Discovery is 512 Million Year Old

February 6, 2026

Paleontologists have unearthed a treasure trove of fossils from 512 million years ago including 90 species previously unknown to science. The discovery comprises 153 different species from 16 major animal groups including sponges, arthropods and bizarre segmented apex predators known as radiodonts that make up a complex food web, dating

Read More
Happy News

What Makes Some Dogs GENIUS Word Learners

February 6, 2026

Scientists have discovered that some exceptionally skilled dogs called gifted word learners can quickly remember the names of toys, and new research reveals the key factor behind their unusual ability isn’t about curiosity but about their relationship with humans. Animal behaviorist Andrea Sommese of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Read More
Happy News

How Our Voices Affect Dog Behavior

February 6, 2026

Hearing a human voice can affect a dog more than previously thought as new research suggests that angry or happy voices are linked to measurable changes in dogs’ balance, with angry voices often causing destabilizing effects that physically sway their bodies. Scientists led by Nadja Affenzeller at the University of

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.