In a city that rarely pauses for anyone, one man is gently rewriting what a daily commute can look like. While most New Yorkers rush through crowded subway stations with their eyes fixed ahead, Bryan Reisberg walks with purpose and a dog nestled securely against his back. Heads turn. Smiles spread. Curious strangers stop to ask questions. What they are witnessing is more than a charming sight. It is a heartfelt mission in motion, giving shelter dogs a real chance to be seen, loved, and finally chosen.
That joyful sight belongs to Bryan Reisberg and the adoptable dogs he carries through the city streets. With each subway ride and sidewalk stroll, Bryan turns an ordinary day into a life-changing opportunity for a shelter pup.
Bryan is known for hosting what he calls “meet-and-greets” on the spot. Instead of waiting for families to visit a shelter, he brings the dogs directly to the people. Tucked safely into a specially designed backpack, each pup gets a front row seat to the city and a real chance to be seen.
When The Dodo team followed Bryan for a day, his companion was Misty, a sweet pit bull from Best Friends Animal Society in Soho. Misty may be missing one eye from a past injury, but she has never let that dim her spirit. She is pure sunshine. A bundle of energy. A dog who leans into every pet as if she has been waiting her whole life for it.
This marked Bryan’s 14th subway ride with a shelter dog. The previous 13 had all ended in adoption. That record is not luck. It is dedication, patience, and a deep love for animals who just need someone to notice them.
Bryan’s journey started with his own dog, Maxine. During their daily commutes, he realized that traditional pet carriers were uncomfortable and impractical. He designed a better backpack so Maxine could travel safely and happily. Then a friend suggested something that changed everything. Why not use the backpack to take shelter dogs out and help them get adopted?
The first time Bryan tried it, something clicked. He has said that meeting the people at Best Friends and seeing their work up close changed his life. He fell in love with the mission. With the dogs. With the idea that a simple subway ride could lead to a forever home.
A Day in the City, A Chance at Forever
With Misty perched comfortably in his backpack, Bryan set off across Manhattan. They visited Central Park, where she watched squirrels with bright curiosity. In Union Square, passersby stopped to ask about her story. Some crouched down to meet her at eye level. She responded with gentle kisses and an eager tail wag.
They even stopped by Petco so Misty could pick out a new toy. At Starbucks, she became the star of a pop-up meet and greet. Strangers who may have never stepped inside a shelter suddenly found themselves locking eyes with a dog who simply wanted to belong.
For Misty, the day was more than an outing. It was freedom. It was attention. It was the chance to show that she is not defined by her missing eye. She is defined by her joyful heart and her calm, well-behaved nature. She rides the subway without fuss. She greets people with trust. She soaks in every moment outside the shelter walls.
And for Bryan, the physical weight of carrying up to 60 pounds is nothing compared to the emotional reward. Each successful adoption makes the sore shoulders worth it. Each photo of a former backpack pup in their new home fuels him to keep going.
Misty is described as a good girl who simply wants someone to love. Watching her rest comfortably in Bryan’s backpack, head poking out to take in the city skyline, it is impossible not to hope that her forever family is just around the corner.
In a city that rarely slows down, Bryan’s mission is a quiet reminder that compassion can move through crowded streets. Sometimes it even rides the subway.
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