24 July 2023 , 16:47
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The beloved "Official Dog of the Boston Marathon," Spencer the Golden Retriever, was set to be immortalised in stone with a community statue - but his owner has hit a major roadblock.
For seven years, Spencer became known for standing unwaveringly in the same spot along the Ashland portion of the Boston Marathon, carrying flags of encouragement in his mouth.
Rain or shine Spencer dutifully held a “Boston Strong” flag as tens of thousands of runners streamed by, and hordes of fans stopped for pets and photos
But after Spencer died last February of liver cancer, his owner Rich Powers, sought to immortalize him with a statue. However, his efforts hit a roadblock when the Ashland Select Board rejected the proposal, sparking disappointment among residents.
After Spencer's death from liver cancer in February, his owner, Rich Powers, sought to immortalize him with a statue (Boston Globe via Getty Images)His owner said Spencer's loyal presence garnered the admiration of countless people, and he received an outpouring of messages when he sadly died. He was 13 years and 6 ½ months old.
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Volunteers diligently worked to turn the idea into reality, raising funds for a bronze likeness of Spencer, which would stand over three feet tall.
The ideal location for the statue was near the Ashland Community Center, close to Spencer's cherished spot along the marathon route. However, this plan required the approval of the Ashland Select Board.
Dorrey and Rich Powers posed for a group photo as they held a portrait of their dogs Spencer, the Marathon Golden, and his sister, Penny, during a meet up for a "Golden Strong" group photo on the Boston Common (Boston Globe via Getty Images)During the recent pitch to the board, Rich encountered opposition. Some members expressed that Spencer, despite his enduring presence at the Boston Marathon, did not have a direct connection to Ashland as he did not serve as a police canine or engage in community events like school and senior center visits.
This perspective led some members to believe that the town should reserve public property for subjects with a deeper connection to the community.
The vote to allow the statue on Community Center land resulted in a split decision, with Board Members Claudia Bennett, Brandi Kinsman, and Joseph Magnani, Jr. opposing, and Robert Scherer and Yolanda Greaves in favor.
Since the board's decision, private property owners have offered alternative locations for the statue. However, the community's sentiments are evident in a poll conducted by Boston.com, where 82 per cent of respondents supported the idea of the statue, while only 18 per cent opposed it.
In 2022, Spencer was honored by the Boston Athletic Association, the race’s organizer, as the official dog, the “Grand Barkshal” and a “V.I.P., Very Important Pup.”
Spencer’s brush with fame began in 2018 when Rich dressed Spencer in his own navy rain jacket and walked to their cheering spot near Ashland State Park. Rich took a video of Spencer, perched on a wooden crate with two flags tucked in his mouth, which later went viral.
Runners from around the world began emailing Powers. Would Spencer be cheering again in 2019? Spencer went to the course every year, even when it was postponed because of the pandemic.
By 2022 he had become so popular that Rich had a friend hold a sign saying “Spencer coming up on the right” so runners wouldn’t miss him. Packs of runners would then form lines to pet him even if it meant adding minutes to their marathon finish time.
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Despite the setback, Rich Powers remains hopeful that the Select Board will reconsider, given the overwhelming support from residents. Meanwhile, he is embracing a new chapter with "Jimmy," a five-month-old Golden Retriever, who is filling the void left by Spencer's passing.
Rich added: "Everyone claims to have the best dog and no one is wrong. Spencer did not know he was as special as he was.”