The Dogs of Fairmont Copley Plaza: Boston’s Most Heartwarming Welcome

BOSTON MADE • THE CANINE AMBASSADORS

A grand Boston hotel. Three unforgettable dogs. One beautiful tradition of welcome.

Boston’s Most Heartwarming Welcome: The Dogs of Fairmont Copley Plaza

Some of Boston’s finest welcomes come with four paws and a wagging tail. At the magnificent Fairmont Copley Plaza, a beloved tradition has made the grand Back Bay hotel feel remarkably like home: its Canine Ambassadors.

Meet Cori Copley

Cori Copley, a gentle black Labrador retriever, carries on a tradition of canine hospitality. After joining the hotel in 2019 through the Guide Dog Foundation, Cori made the lobby her special domain. Guests may see her relaxing, greeting friends or heading out for a neighborhood walk with her caretaker, longtime concierge Joe Fallon. Ask the concierge when Cori might be available to meet.

Catie: The First Canine Ambassador

It all began with Catie Copley in 2004. The Labrador became a local celebrity, inspired children’s books and warmed thousands of hearts. Following her death in 2017, Boston honored her memory with Catie Copley Day on June 23. Her story reminds us that simple affection can become part of a city’s history.

Carly and the Tradition of Love

Carly Copley joined the family in 2013, bringing her own playful personality and years of joy before retiring in 2019. Together, Catie, Carly and Cori have given Fairmont guests something priceless: companionship, comfort and a sense of belonging.

A Special Place for Dogs and Their People

Fairmont Copley Plaza also welcomes traveling pets, with a pet-friendly experience and dog-focused amenities. Before bringing your companion, confirm current policies and fees with the hotel.

The building is beautiful. The history is extraordinary. But what makes this story unforgettable is the love offered freely by a dog in the lobby. Sometimes the smallest welcome creates the greatest memory.

Plan your visit: Fairmont Copley Plaza, 138 St. James Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts. Discover the Canine Ambassadors.

Independent Boston Made editorial coverage; not affiliated with Fairmont Copley Plaza. Please verify ambassador availability with the hotel.

A Grand Hotel With a Long Boston Story

Part of what makes the Canine Ambassadors so charming is the setting. The Fairmont Copley Plaza is one of the great historic hotels of the Back Bay, a Beaux-Arts landmark that opened in 1912. It was designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, the architect also known for New York’s Plaza Hotel, and it was built to give Boston a grand hotel worthy of one of its most celebrated public squares.

The ground beneath it has its own history. The Back Bay was once a tidal basin of the Charles River, filled in during the nineteenth century to create the elegant grid of streets and brownstones that defines the neighborhood today. Before the hotel rose, its site in Copley Square had been home to the original Museum of Fine Arts, which later moved to a larger home on Huntington Avenue. In a sense, the building continues a tradition of the site as a place where Boston welcomes visitors.

The square outside the door

Step outside, and you are in one of the most architecturally rich spaces in the city. Copley Square is named for John Singleton Copley, the Boston-born painter whose portraits captured colonial and revolutionary-era Bostonians. Across the square stands Trinity Church, Henry Hobson Richardson’s Romanesque masterpiece, completed in the 1870s and still one of the most admired buildings in America. Facing it is the McKim Building of the Boston Public Library, the grand Renaissance-inspired design by McKim, Mead and White, whose inscription over the entrance declares it free to all. The library’s courtyard is one of the quietest, loveliest spots in the city for a pause between errands.

Together, the hotel, the church and the library form a kind of outdoor living room for the Back Bay. It is easy to see why a calm, friendly dog in the lobby feels so perfectly at home here: the whole square is about welcome.

How to Meet a Canine Ambassador Politely

Dogs who spend their days greeting the public are wonderfully patient, but a little courtesy goes a long way. These simple habits make the encounter pleasant for the dog, its caretaker and everyone else in the lobby.

• Ask first. Check with the concierge or the dog’s handler before approaching, as the original guidance above suggests. A dog that is resting or heading out for a walk may not be available.
• Let the dog come to you. Stand or crouch calmly and allow the dog to sniff your hand before petting.
• Keep it gentle. A soft stroke on the shoulder or chest is usually more welcome than a pat on the head.
• Do not offer food. Even a small treat can upset a dog’s routine or diet.
• Watch the little ones. Show children how to greet a dog slowly and kindly, and keep the moment short.
• Respect the space. The lobby is the dog’s workplace and other guests’ arrival area, so keep the visit relaxed and brief.

Exploring the Back Bay With Your Own Dog

For visitors traveling with a dog, the neighborhood around Copley Square is a pleasure to explore on foot. The Commonwealth Avenue Mall, the tree-lined promenade running down the center of the avenue, makes for a graceful walk past some of the city’s finest nineteenth-century homes. A few blocks away, the Public Garden and Boston Common offer greenery in the heart of the city, and the Charles River Esplanade provides long riverside paths for an unhurried stroll.

As always, keep your dog leashed and follow posted rules, bring bags and water, and check current park regulations before you go, since rules for dogs vary from one green space to another.

Questions Visitors Ask

Can I stay at the hotel with my own pet?

The hotel describes itself as pet-friendly, but policies, fees and size limits can change. Confirm the details directly with the hotel before booking.

Is the ambassador always in the lobby?

No. Like any dog, the ambassador keeps a routine of rest, walks and time off. Asking at the concierge desk is the best way to find out when a visit might be possible.

Why do hotels have ambassador dogs at all?

For many travelers, especially those who miss their own pets, a friendly dog turns a large, formal space into something warm and personal. It is hospitality in its simplest form.