Golden retrievers gather at Boston Marathon finish line in honor of beloved dogs - ABC News

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Dozens of dogs and their owners converged on Boston Common Sunday.

April 17, 2023, 1:51 PM

Dozens of golden retrievers and their owners paid tribute Sunday to two beloved Boston Marathon dogs -- Spencer and Penny -- ahead of the 127th running of the marathon.

The dogs donned bright yellow bandanas emblazoned with "GOLDEN STRONG," an homage to the bright blue "BOSTON STRONG" flags Spencer and Penny carried at past Boston Marathons, Boston ABC affiliate WCVB reported.

PHOTO: Dozens of golden retrievers gather with their owners, and some other breeds, to pose for photos and play together in Boston, April 16, 2023. — Dozens of golden retrievers gather with their owners, and some other breeds, to pose for photos and play together in Boston, April 16, 2023.

Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

Spencer died following a second bout of cancer on Feb. 17, owner Richard Powers confirmed to "GMA." And then on Feb. 26, Powers shared on The Henry Studio's Instagram that Penny also died after doctors found cancerous tumors that had spread throughout her body.

Powers, a photographer and owner of The Henry Studio, told "GMA" in February that he had his golden retrievers start holding the blue flags in 2015 and the duo quickly captured the hearts of runners and spectators along the marathon route. In 2022, Spencer was even named the "official dog of the 126th Boston Marathon."

"He and Penny -- they were just wonderful dogs and each of them were too good not to share, and so that's what we did," Powers said at the time.

The group Massachusetts Golden Meetups organized the golden retriever gathering and also presented Powers with a $1,000 check, in Spencer and Penny's names, that will go toward dog cancer research with the Morris Animal Foundation, according to WCVB.

Following the Sunday meetup, Powers posted photos on Instagram. In one caption, he wrote, "Quite a touching tribute to an amazing pair. Spencer & Penny forever in our hearts. #bostonstrong."