Boston Marathon's official dog, Spencer, honored with statue along route

Runners making the trek through Ashland during the Boston Marathon will see a familiar face cast in bronze this year. Spencer, who became the marathon's official dog before he died last year, has been honored with a statue in his likeness along the route.

Following the 2013 marathon bombings, Spencer became a fixture of the marathon as he stood alongside the race holding a "Boston Strong" flag in his mouth to support the runners. He gained further fame in 2018 after a video posted by his owner, Rich Powers, went viral. The video showed the golden retriever in a raincoat cheering on the runners despite the inclement weather.

Spencer, a therapy dog from Holliston, was named the the Official Dog of the 126th Marathon in 2022. He cheered on the runners for eight years from the sidelines. A portrait of Spencer was unveiled at the Copley Fairmont Plaza in January 2023 after Spencer was diagnosed with untreatable liver cancer. The pup was also given an honorary race medal by the Boston Athletic Association. Spencer died a month later at age 13.

Now, Spencer will permanently sit on marathon route at the intersections of Olive, Frankland and West Union streets in Ashland in the form of a bronze statue made by artist Jeff Buccacio.

Spencer's owner, Rich Powers, has a new pup, Jimmy, who will carry on the tradition and hold flags along the route when runners pass by on April 15.