NEED TO KNOW
Bryan Reisberg and his corgi Maxine went viral for the way they commute through N.Y.C. together
The influencer recently started taking shelter dogs on adventures in his canine backpack
Reisberg’s journeys with the rescue dogs, which he posts on social media, have led to numerous adoptions
A pet influencer is introducing dogs to adventures and opening hearts through his viral canine clips.
Bryan Reisberg, 37, is famous for toting his corgi around N.Y.C. in a backpack, but recently, the influencer’s bag has had some new clientele. Over the past few months, the New York City-based filmmaker and entrepreneur has taken shelter pups for a spin in a special “Adopt Me” doggie knapsack, embarking on urban romps with the rescue dogs in hopes of connecting the animals with adopters.
Reisberg supercharges the shelter animals’ adoption prospects, not only through his backpack trips but also by sharing videos of adoptable dogs on the social media accounts @madmax_fluffyroad and @heylittlechonk.
Since Resiberg’s first video diary with an adoptable dog this summer, 11 of the rescue canines he’s “adventured” with have found forever families. He tells PEOPLE that his viral videos featuring shelter dogs have helped animal rescue organizations, such as Best Friends Animal Society, increase adoption numbers.
courtesy bryan reisberg
Bryan Reisberg with shelter dog Lucy Goosey
“If I need to go ride a Citi Bike with a dog in a backpack just so somebody wants to click on that video, comment on it, and share it to somebody else, great, let’s do it,” Reisberg says.
Reisberg began laying the groundwork for his near-perfect adoption success rate in 2015, when he carved out an online niche around a unique wedding gift. In celebration of their nuptials, Reisberg and his wife gifted each other a fluffy corgi named Maxine.
Since then, Reisberg has been posting videos of Maxine, now 10, and her comical commuting style — tucked in a backpack designed for pets on the subway, smiling behind Reisberg’s head. He quickly amassed an audience of dog lovers, with Maxine’s @madmax_fluffyroad social media accounts totaling 5 million followers across TikTok and Instagram. Celebrities, including Ed Sheeran, have even “requested to meet” the canine celebrity.
courtesy bryan reisberg
Bryan Reisberg with Maxine
“People would just go nuts on the subway because she didn’t look real,” Reisberg says of the typical reaction to Maxine on his city commute.
Recently, a friend and fellow influencer suggested to Reisberg that he try taking a shelter dog out in the backpack to see what happens. Turns out, rescue pups also attract attention when they are being carted around N.Y.C. in style.
“I want to just do it, cut it, get it out into the world—let’s see if we can get some dogs adopted,” he says of how eagerly he took to the project, working with Best Friends and Animal Care Centers of N.Y.C.
courtesy bryan reisberg
Bryan Reisberg with Maxine the corgi
Best Friends has since launched an “Adventure Buddy” program inspired by Reisberg’s gesture.
Through his collaboration with shelters, Reisberg takes his “adventure buddy” on a specially selected, activity-packed day of exploring the city. Once he’s presented with his adoptable pooch for the day, Reisberg gets right to filming.
A typical outing includes a walk through Central Park, taking the subway to Union Square for toy shopping, followed by a pup cup and sightseeing.
“I’m just so touched by the fact that [the dogs are] down to go be on the train and to go do all these crazy things,” Reisberg says of the adventure. “It was such a quick little dopamine hit of their personality that I put the first one out there, and I was like, ‘This is going to be incredible. People are going to go nuts for this.'”
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Bryan Reisberg giving a pup cup to rescue dog, Genesis
The backpack Resiberg uses to tote the shelter dogs around N.Y.C. is of his own design. In 2019, he dreamt up an ergonomically sound, comfortable, and sturdy alternative to the backpack carriers he had been using with Maxine, since every bag he used had flaws. This dream came to life on Maxine’s sixth birthday with Little Chonk, a dog bag line carefully crafted with input from veterinarians and orthopedists.
The anecdotes Reisberg receives from customers are heartwarming and make the work well worth it.
“Over the years, we just saw people were taking their dogs on hikes and sending us these heartfelt messages because they couldn’t previously do these things with their pets,” Reisberg says of Little Chonk.
courtesy bryan reisberg
Bryan Reisberg with a shelter dog
Reisberg is currently working to send Little Chonk bags to various shelters to help kickstart their adventure buddy programs.
“We want to have a philanthropic arm that feels wholly integrated into the work that we’re doing. We don’t just want to donate money. We don’t want to do a Black Friday campaign that promotes a shelter. That’s not enough,” Little Chonk’s founder says.
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In everything he does, Reisberg aims to connect with animal lovers, especially those willing to help improve pets’ lives.
“I hope it attracts that kind of person who will just give completely unbridled, stupid, crazy, ridiculous love to these pets,” he says.
Read the original article on People