Remley, longtime mascot of Burnaby Auto Body, has died
The almost 19-year-old Border Collie-Labrador mix, a cherished companion of the business's owner, Brian Borsoff, is remembered as welcome presence at the B.C. collision facility where his strong social skills frequently provided comfort to customers.
"Every time someone came in, he was there to say hello. But if someone was crying, he would wrap his left paw around their leg to reassure them," says Borsoff. "For people who had just been in an accident, that could mean a lot."
A well-known figure in his community, Remley helped raise more than $6,000 to help a local fire department acquire breathing masks to help rescue dogs and cats.Outside of his work, Remley served as a tireless emotional support worker at the Port Moody hospice, often taking shifts during holidays -- including on Christmas Day. "When we went to the different rooms, he'd take time with each of the patients. Then, he'd go into the family rooms and give them comfort, too."
Remley was also an inveterate fundraiser whose efforts supported the well-being of local dogs -- even cats. Remley also played a role in raising $6,000 worth of pet oxygen masks for the local fire department. For these efforts, he was named as one of Collision Repair's pets of the bodyshop in 2023.
Last year, he came fourth in a competition among B.C. pets to raise money for the SPCA and was featured in the organization's annual calendar.
Remley posing for the SPCA calendar."Since he's gone, a few customers have asked, 'is Remley in?'" says Borsoff. "A mayor, the fire captain and a police chief have also called to let me know how sorry they were to hear of his death."
"He was quite a local celebrity," adds Borsoff. "I'm touched that so many people have remembered him. He would be, too."
