Pooch made headlines around the world
Cody the dog, the gentle sentinel at the doors of a Fort Street furniture store whose run-in with regulations drew international attention, has died.
The 14-year-old golden retriever, who could be counted on to greet customers at Charmaine’s Past and Present, died of old age.
“To all of Cody’s friends, we are sorry to say he has passed away from old age,” his owners wrote on the furniture store’s Facebook page. “Thank you so much for all your love for him over the years.”
Cody’s penchant for lounging on the sidewalk in front of the store became a controversy last year when an animal control officer said his owners were breaking a city bylaw by leaving him offleash.
Cody was banished into the shop, sparking a petition from Victoria’s Ryan Painter who urged council to make an exception for the docile dog.
“I thought, ‘Is this what we’re doing to this icon, this beacon of love in the city?’ ” Painter said Monday, reflecting on why he started the online petition. “[The exception] wasn’t going to be a domino effect for every other dog in the city, because there was no other animal like Cody in Victoria.”
The petition drew thousands of signatures, including from people in the U.S., Germany and the U.K.
City councillors faced intense political backlash after they said the bylaw can’t be broken for one dog, no matter how cute.
Cody’s owner, Charmaine Britton, told the Times Colonist at the time that she received emails from around the world. Hundreds of people came to the store to see Cody, and strangers volunteered to sit outside with him on a leash.
“That dog, he’s something special,” Painter said. “Victoria has lost a gentle ambassador.”
Painter believes the story resonated with people because it represented hope.
“People said when they visited they felt connected to him. He made them feel calm and at peace,” he said. “And people thought ‘let’s not chain or shackle this loving, sweet dog behind a door. Let’s let him be out there giving hope and joy and love to Victoria.’ ”
Cody eventually returned to his rightful spot outdoors.
Darlene Moodey, a longtime customer of the store, said it was not uncommon for Cody to attract a line of people waiting to give him some love.
“He had those big soulful eyes,” she said. “He brought so much joy to so many people.”
Dozens of people expressed condolences on social media. Many wrote that Cody was the unofficial ambassador for Fort Street and that passersby couldn’t help but smile when seeing him.
Nixie Victor wrote: “If I was having a bad day, hugging Cody made all the difference.”