Although they say good things come in small packages, maybe great things come in large bags. This is certainly true for one New Yorker and her dog who have suddenly become internet celebrities. The duo’s fame arrived after a TikTok video circulated depicting the woman carrying her 52-pound Samoyed in a backpack on the New York subway.
Woman carries large Samoyed in backpack on New York subway
Jackie Hornung tells Newsweek that her dog’s name is Lumi, which means snow in Finnish. She shared the clip to her dog’s TikTok account @littlebearlumi. The video captioned “Dogs of NYC Struggles” has already gathered more than 3.7 million views. The clip depicts the giant white fluff ball fitting snugly in his owner’s extra-large backpack, bouncing happily as Hornung heads down the subway steps.
@littlebearlumi Long leg lumi #fyp #dog #puppy #samoyed #nyc ♬ original sound – littlebearlumi
While many viewers are ecstatic over the video’s cuteness, some commenters questioned the need for the resourceful maneuver.
“Dogs have to be in bags on the NYC subway! So that’s why he’s in a backpack,” the caption overlay on Hornung’s video read.
NYC subway rule requires containment of dogs
The MTA’s Rules of Conduct & Fines states “no person may bring any animal on or into any conveyance or facility unless enclosed in a container.” The report also added that pets must be carried in a way that would not be a nuisance to subway passengers.
In response, New Yorkers like Hornung have had to get a little cheeky. Recently, other videos depict the city-dwellers finding a variety of containers to carry the urban pooches on the New York subway. It is the law, after all. Some carry their dogs in Ikea bags with holes cut out for the legs. Others prefer rolling suitcases.
Lumi appeared content, nestled inside the duffel-sized bag. His fluffy head and large front paws flopped against Hornung’s back and shoulders.
Hornung replied to a later comment on the video that asked if the pup was comfortable. She assured viewers that the backpack is pretty spacious and that Lumi can sit on a platform built into the bottom of the bag.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), Samoyeds are known for their beautiful coats and are friendly, adaptable, and gentle dogs. Samoyed Rescue Groups can be found on the Samoyed Club of America’s website.
