Bryan carries adoptable dogs around the New York City subway in a custom backpack to do on-the-spot meet and greets, and it’s changing their lives.
An Unusual Subway Sight
If you ride the New York City subway, you might have seen an unusual and heartwarming sight.
A man named Bryan carries adoptable dogs around the city, doing meet and greets on the spot.
His goal is simple but profound: to help shelter dogs find their forever homes by bringing them directly to the people.
Meeting Misty
The Dodo team met up with Bryan at Best Friends Animal Society in SoHo.
They wanted to know more about his mission and how his back holds up carrying 60-pound pit bulls.
There, they met Misty, the adoptable dog of the day, who instantly melted into Bryan’s arms.
A Perfect Record
Misty is missing an eye due to a past injury, but she is still the happiest bundle of energy.
This was Bryan’s 14th dog subway ride, and the stakes were high.
All 13 of his prior backpack rides had successfully led to the dog finding an adoptive home.
How It All Started
Bryan’s backpacking journey began with his own dog, Maxine.
During their daily commutes, he realized that none of the existing dog backpacks were comfortable.
So, he decided to design his very own line of doggy backpacks to solve the problem.
A Life-Changing Idea
A friend suggested Bryan use his new backpacks to take shelter dogs out for rides.
The idea was to get them out of the shelter environment and in front of potential adopters.
"From the first moment I took a dog out in a backpack that wasn’t my own, I fell in love," Bryan explained.
Spreading Joy In The City
Bryan and Misty took the subway to Central Park and then to Union Square.
Along the way, Misty was very aggressive with her love, handing out kisses to strangers.
People on the street were amazed to learn that the beautiful dog in the backpack was available for adoption.
Spoiling The Adoptables
The outings aren’t just about finding adopters; they are also about spoiling the dogs.
Bryan brought Misty to Petco to pick out new toys.
Afterward, they stopped at Starbucks so Misty could enjoy a delicious pup cup.
Hoping For A Forever Home
As they headed back to the shelter, it was clear that Bryan was cheering people up in dismal times.
Misty proved to be a well-behaved girl who simply wants someone to love.
Bryan and the team are hopeful that she will soon find her forever home and share her joy with a lucky family.