Walking With Niall Harbison: A London Tribute to Rescue Dogs
Get to know Niall Harbison and Why London showed up for him
In the world of animal advocacy, few names resonate as deeply right now as Niall Harbison's. A former tech entrepreneur turned dog rescue warrior, Niall swapped boardrooms for backstreets in Thailand, where he now devotes his life to feeding and saving street dogs, often up to 800 a day.
His viral videos and daily updates through @niall.harbison and @wearehappydoggo have found homes on the phones of millions around the globe. And for many Londoners, especially dog lovers and rescue advocates, his story hits a little harder, because it reflects a purpose-driven passion this city thrives on.
London is no stranger to compassion. It's a city of dog meetups in every park, of cosy cafés with dog polaroid photos on the walls; of people who believe in second chances, especially for animals. So when Niall Harbison reached out to Teresa - a rescue dog advocate, and human to Greek rescue Piccolina herself - on her community page @thedogvine and said he'd be keen to meet some of London’s rescue dogs as part of his book tour while he is here in London, the buzz was instant.
Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World
To understand Niall Harbison's mission, you need to understand Tina.
Tina wasn't just a rescue - she was the soul of a movement. A dog found chained up and abandoned after years of breeding, her spirit broken and her breed unrecognisable at first. Her story has now travelled across continents, not because it's sad, but because it's transformative.
The Story Behind the Book
Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World is not your typical rescue memoir. It's part love letter, part call to action. Written with raw honesty, it traces the unlikely bond between a man struggling with his own purpose and a dog who helped him find it again.
When Tina passed away, she left behind more than memories. She left behind a fire. And Niall has carried that fire into everything he's done since - from daily street feeds to a growing global following that now supports hundreds of dogs every single day.
🐾 "I Was Just A Conduit To Share Tina's Message.” — Niall Harbison.
Tina's Legacy and the Movement She Inspired
Tina's impact can be seen - and felt - in numbers that speak for themselves:
Sterilised 80,000 dogs, stopping close to a million puppies from being born
Fed over 500,000 freshly cooked meals
Re-homed 75 dogs around the world
Built her field hospital
Treated hundreds of sick dogs just like her
She is, in every sense, still changing the world - just like the book title says.
But more than that, Tina became a symbol of what's possible when someone decides to show up, consistently, for the most vulnerable. And she reminds us all that sometimes, the quietest lives leave the loudest legacies.
Why This Book Tour Matters to Dog Lovers
With the release of Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World on 08 May, Niall isn't just telling her story — he's inviting all of us into it. Every penny of the book's sales supports the dogs Tina left behind, making it one of the most meaningful purchases a dog lover could make this year.
If you read just one book in 2025, let it be this one. Not because it will break your heart (it will), but because it will piece it back together in the most hopeful way.
Read more about Tina's story here →
Kensington Gardens: A Perfect Backdrop for a Dog-Loving Day
Under a soft London sky, Queen Caroline's Temple became the unexpected stage for something truly heartwarming: a walk with Niall Harbison, and the dogs and the humans who love what he stands for.
It was never going to be a massive media circus - and that's what made it so special. A quiet invite shared among the community turned into a gathering of kindred spirits. Some brought rescue pups. Others came solo, just to say thank you. And everyone, without exception, brought a story.
The Walk, the Dogs, and the Atmosphere
From the moment Niall arrived, he did something telling: in lieu of a big introduction, he immediately approached the first dog in sight and started a conversation. "I always head straight to the first dogs I see," he joked. That humility, that honest energy - it set the tone. This wasn't a celebrity moment. It was a community walk with someone who feels like a friend you've known forever.
Dogs trotted along beside their humans. Laughter and tails wagged in tandem. And in between all the action, there was room for quiet conversations, hugs, and thank-yous that meant more than most words ever could. It was a privilege to be in his company myself, and I can’t thank Teresa enough for allowing me to invite myself along to pay thanks to this very special man by documenting a small pocket of the impact he is having on the world.
What It Felt Like Meeting Niall in Person
There's something rare about meeting someone who is exactly as you imagined - not because they're larger-than-life, but because they're deeply, sincerely human. Niall met every person with eye contact, humour, and curiosity. He wasn't performing. He was present. He showed a genuine interest in every single person and dog he met, and as an introvert who feels so much more at ease in the company of dogs myself, I understood exactly why he had chosen to meet this group during his incredibly busy schedule.
Niall Harbison's Message to London Dog Lovers
Beyond the book, the TikToks, and the photos, Niall had one real message: we can all help, no matter where we are.
From asking about people's own rescues to sharing light-hearted moments (like how some dogs clearly owned the whole park), Niall reminded everyone that dog rescue isn't a sad story - it's a hopeful one.
Not once did Niall centre himself. It was always about the dogs. The ones we know, the ones we lost, and the ones still waiting.
And when asked how he does it, his answer was simple: "He thinks of Tina. And uses creating her legacy as fuel."
What We Can All Do to Help Rescue Dogs
Whether it's donating to We Are Happy Doggo, supporting a local rescue here in London, or simply sharing rescue stories online, every small act adds up. As Niall reminded us, "Even showing up matters."
How to Support Niall's Work From the UK
The beauty of Niall's mission is that it's truly global - whether you were at Kensington Gardens or following from afar, you can be part of it.
Follow and Share @niall.harbison & @wearehappydoggo
Social media is how Niall found his voice, and it's how Tina's message continues to spread. Sharing a post, commenting with support, or telling a friend is a meaningful action.
Buy the Book: Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World
Grab your copy here - and know that every page helps change a life.
Final Reflections: Why This Day Meant So Much
It's rare to walk away from a Monday in the park feeling like you've just witnessed something sacred. But this wasn't just any park day. It was a living tribute to the dogs who shape us, and the humans who fight for them.
Because London understands that kindness is radical. That in a world of chaos, feeding a stray dog is a revolutionary act. And that sometimes, a book can lead to a movement that starts with four paws and a tail that learns to wag happily again.
Carrying the Message Forward
If Tina changed the world, it's only because people like Niall were willing to tell her story - and people like you are willing to listen, share, and act.
Let's keep walking. For Tina. For the rescues. For the next dog who just needs someone to care.
