Golden Retrievers Gather to Honor Spencer, Boston Marathon’s Top Dog

BOSTON — Less than 24 hours earlier than 30,000 runners would board buses to the beginning line of the Boston Marathon, a distinct kind of excited vitality pulsed by means of Boston Common.

Will, Sammy, Mandy, Cather, Lucy, Frank, Flynn and Lou had been there. So had been Kona, River, Miko, Clementine, Lily, Maple, Cedar and Chester.

They weren’t carrying high-tech sneakers or racing bibs. They had 4 legs every, had been panting wildly and drooling only a bit.

They had been a few of the 250 or so canine that descended on a public park in downtown Boston to honor two golden retrievers that grew to become inextricably linked to the Boston Marathon. Spencer, a remedy canine who grew to become the Boston Marathon’s official race canine, died Feb. 17 at age 13 from an inoperable most cancers.

Spencer gained fame as an enthusiastic spectator at Mile 3 of the marathon course who dutifully held a Boston Strong flag as runners stopped for images. He grew to become so standard that runners typically lined up for the possibility, including seconds, if not minutes, to their instances. But irrespective of: It was Spencer.

Per week after Spencer died, Penny, considered one of his litter mates’ offspring, additionally died, from hemangiosarcoma, a sort of most cancers.

“Did he stay for her or did she stay for him?” Rich Powers, their proprietor, puzzled. “They were so bonded.”

Powers and his spouse, Dorrey, have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of help within the weeks since their canine died. Losing Spencer was tough sufficient, Rich Powers mentioned. “Losing Penny threw us to a level of sadness we weren’t prepared for.”

The response was fast and world. They have obtained playing cards; hundreds of {dollars} in donations to the Morris Animal Foundation, a nonprofit primarily based in Colorado; visits from native canine; and a shock within the type of Sunday’s occasion, which was organized by MA Golden Meetups as a tribute to Spencer and Penny.

On Sunday, what was as soon as anticipated to be 20 canine became a full subject of fur.

“The only thing better than one golden is a whole bunch of goldens,” Deb Litterer of Rhode Island mentioned.

She added: “What I’m surprised about is how good they are all being today. They are all being therapy dogs.”

The canine, a few of whom had been official remedy canine like Spencer, had been on their finest conduct, and obliged the numerous picture requests. There had been countless refrains of “oh my God” adopted by squeals.

There was a canine carrying a Boston Bruins hat, a canine carrying what appeared like trainers, canine carrying rainbow harnesses, canine carrying Golden Strong bandannas, canine carrying rubber ducky raincoats regardless of the temperate climate and a canine carrying a Santa hat.

The scale of the group got here into focus when volunteers began coordinating a gaggle picture. Some small canine within the space, together with a Shih Tzu named Miko, appeared deeply confused.

At one level, a photographer shouted, “If all the dogs could look at me,” to laughs from the gang. Some canine appeared to listen.

Rich and Dorrey Powers sat on the middle. Rich Powers held the Boston Strong flag that Spencer as soon as carried and {a photograph} of the 2 canine. Rich Powers was carrying a navy blue raincoat, the identical one he placed on Spencer once they cheered within the chilly rain on the 2018 Boston Marathon. They had been each beaming, even when their eyes appeared a bit misty.

“I’m overwhelmed,” he mentioned. “I think I can safely say that Spencer and Penny have impacted millions now.”

Stephanie Ormond of Fresno, Calif., got here to the occasion with out a canine. Her nails had been painted with logos to match the course. A damaged coronary heart for Heartbreak Hill at Mile 20 of the course, a Citgo signal, the Boston Marathon unicorn and, on her thumb, the unmistakable picture of Spencer holding his flag. She mentioned that she can be operating the race the subsequent day and that “Spencer was my favorite part of the marathon.”

It was a sentiment shared by many who mingled within the park carrying Boston Marathon jackets from years previous.

On Monday, about 30,000 runners is not going to see Spencer or Penny on the course close to Ashland, Mass. But Rich Powers shall be there.

The Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the marathon, supplied to take him to the beginning or the end as a particular visitor, he mentioned, however he declined.

He wished to be the place he all the time was. At Mile 3, on the runners’ proper, with Spencer’s flag, carrying the blue rain jacket that when protected his canine from the weather.