B.C. dog forced inside after loyally greeting visitors at local shop for 13 years

[Could you say ‘no’ to a face like this? / Facebook]

Cody the Golden Retriever has been forced to stay indoors by the city of Victoria, B.C.

His crime? Sitting outside and lounging on the sidewalk of his owner’s downtown furniture store without a leash - something he’s been doing for 13 years.

As CTV Vancouver Island reports, the elderly dog’s owner, Charmaine Britton, has been issued two warnings by Victoria Animal Control this month for letting Cody sit outside her store “Charmaine’s” without a leash.

City officials say the dog is breaking a bylaw, but Britton said she doesn’t understand why all of a sudden after so many years it’s become a problem.

“Probably 99.9 per cent of people have a favourable reaction to Cody. We have not had complaints, even from people walking by or coming in the store,” she said.

The popular pooch has become such a common sight in downtown Victoria that he even has his own set of hours, posted above his favourite lounging spot in front of the store.

Britton said the hard-handed order also caught Cody off-guard.

“He’s frustrated because he can’t get out and see all his regulars, and visit with all the people going up and down the street,” she said.

Some have been critical of the city council’s decision to suddenly crack down on Cody. Critics have mused about why other bylaws violated ever day, such as Victoria’s homeless tent city on its courthouse lawn, are given a free pass.

As for Britton, she said she doesn’t hold a grudge against the animal control officers, who are just doing their job. She does, however, hope the city will maybe reconsider Cody’s case.

“I think the reason that he has lived so long is all the love and attention he gets in a day.”