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Golden Retrievers cross Boston Marathon finish line
By By WCVB
Golden Retrievers cross Boston Marathon finish line
THE PUBLIC UNTIL 4:00 HIS AFTERNOON. JENNIFER: THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE GOING ON FOR THE OFFICIAL MARATHON DOG AND HIS NIECE THIS MORNING. WE UNDERSTAND YOU JUST CAUGHT UP WITH SOME OF THEM. BRIANNA:BRIANNA: A VERY SPECIAL TRIBUTE, AND AN ADORABLE TRIBUTE. A BUNCH OF GOLDEN RETRIEVER’S JUST HERE AT THE FINISH LINE TO HONOR SPENCER, THE OFFICIAL DOG OF THE BOSTON MARATHON AND HIS NIECE PENNY WHO PASSED AWAY EARLIER THIS YEAR DUE TO CANCER. WHEN THEY HEARD ABOUT THEIR PASSING, THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GATHER A BUNCH OF GOLDEN RETRIEVERS TO HONOR THEIR MEMORY. ABOUT 15 DOGS WEARING CUSTOM BANDANAS. PART OF THE PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE MORRIS FOUNDATION FOR CANINE CANCER RESEARCH. THEY ALL CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF SPENCER AND PENNY AND THEIR OWNER IS TOUCHED BY THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT. >> IT IS REALLY VERY HEARTWARMING. THERE’S NOT MUCH BETTER THAN THE SIGHT OF HUNDREDS OF GOLDEN RETRIEVERS. BUT THE SUPPORT THEY GAVE TO US, AND THEY ARE GOING TO HELP DONATE TO THE MEMORIAL PAGE TO END CANINE CANCER, IT IS JUST SUCH AN AMAZING EVENT THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER. BRIANNA: THEY ARE ALSO WORKING ON GETTING A MEMORIAL IN ASHLAND WHERE SPENCER AND PENNY WOULD WATCH THE MARATHON, SO WE WILL LOOK OUT FOR ANY PROGRESS ON THAT. THERE ARE ALSO MORE THAN 100 GOLDEN RETRIEVER’S DOWN AT THE COMMON RIGHT NOW. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOME BIG HUGS AND KISSES FROM SOME GOLDEN RETRIEVERS THIS MORNING, THAT IS WHERE YOU CAN FIND THEM. JENNIFER: DARLING TRIBUTE. WCVB IS PROUD TO BE THE EXCLUSIVE LOCAL MEDIA PARTNER FOR THIS YEAR’S BOSTON MARATHON. NEWSCENTER 5 WILL HAVE EXTENSIVE LIVE COVERAGE A
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Golden Retrievers cross Boston Marathon finish line
By By WCVB
Several Golden Retrievers crossed the Boston Marathon finish line Sunday in honor of Spencer, the official Boston Marathon dog, and his niece Penny.What started as a small group of Golden Retriever owners getting together to go on hikes grew into a community of friends.When they learned of the passing of Spencer and Penny within weeks of each other, the group knew they wanted to do something.“I think it’s a symbol of Massachusetts, but it’s also a symbol of strength and resilience. I think we're all going through a time where we all need strength and resilience coming out of the pandemic. Opportunities to make people smile, whether it’s the day of or the day before, I think it’s a way to come together as a community,” said Elisha Bussiere, of Massachusetts Golden Meetups.The dogs wore bandanas that say "Golden Strong" in homage to Spencer’s famous "Boston Strong" flag and will spend time with runners, families and visitors at the Marathon finish line the day before the race.“It teared me up, pretty amazing,” Spencer and Penny’s owner Rich Powers said.Powers said that losing them has brought a level of sadness he's never known, but knowing the golden community is there for him means everything.“There’s something about a Golden Retriever that just are very, very, very special breed,” Powers said.After they crossed the finish line, the dogs gathered on Boston Common with dozens of other Golden Retrievers and their owners.During the Boston Common gathering, Massachusetts Golden Meetups presented a $1,000 check to Powers as a donation in Spencer's and Penny's names to the Morris Animal Foundation for K9 Cancer Research.Part of the proceeds from the "Golden Strong" bandanas will also benefit the Morris Animal Foundation.Spencer became an iconic symbol of the Boston Marathon for holding a flag reading "Boston Strong" along the marathon route, greeting thousands of runners as they passed.Spencer had multiple bouts with cancer and after another cancer was detected over the winter, his owners came to face the realization that he would not make it to the 127th running of the race. Spencer died on Feb. 17 at the age of 13.Spencer's niece, the family's 11-year-old golden retriever named Penny, died days later after a veterinarian discovered she was suffering from internal bleeding and that she had tumors on her liver and spleen.
BOSTON —

Several Golden Retrievers crossed the Boston Marathon finish line Sunday in honor of Spencer, the official Boston Marathon dog, and his niece Penny.

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What started as a small group of Golden Retriever owners getting together to go on hikes grew into a community of friends.

When they learned of the passing of Spencer and Penny within weeks of each other, the group knew they wanted to do something.

“I think it’s a symbol of Massachusetts, but it’s also a symbol of strength and resilience. I think we're all going through a time where we all need strength and resilience coming out of the pandemic. Opportunities to make people smile, whether it’s the day of or the day before, I think it’s a way to come together as a community,” said Elisha Bussiere, of Massachusetts Golden Meetups.

The dogs wore bandanas that say "Golden Strong" in homage to Spencer’s famous "Boston Strong" flag and will spend time with runners, families and visitors at the Marathon finish line the day before the race.

“It teared me up, pretty amazing,” Spencer and Penny’s owner Rich Powers said.

Powers said that losing them has brought a level of sadness he's never known, but knowing the golden community is there for him means everything.

“There’s something about a Golden Retriever that just are very, very, very special breed,” Powers said.

After they crossed the finish line, the dogs gathered on Boston Common with dozens of other Golden Retrievers and their owners.

During the Boston Common gathering, Massachusetts Golden Meetups presented a $1,000 check to Powers as a donation in Spencer's and Penny's names to the Morris Animal Foundation for K9 Cancer Research.

Part of the proceeds from the "Golden Strong" bandanas will also benefit .

Spencer became an iconic symbol of the Boston Marathon for along the , greeting thousands of runners as they passed.

Spencer had multiple bouts with cancer and after another cancer was detected over the winter, his owners came to face the realization that he would not make it to the 127th running of the race. Spencer died on Feb. 17 at the age of 13.

Spencer's niece, , died days later after a veterinarian discovered she was suffering from internal bleeding and that she had tumors on her liver and spleen.