Have you ever seen a dog with a racing bib or a pair of Nikes that fit their paws? Well, neither have we. But what we have seen are some seriously panting, drooling, and energetic pups that took over a public park in Boston. About 250 of them, to be precise. And why, you might ask? To pay tribute to two golden retrievers that became the unofficial mascots of Boston’s most famous race, the Boston Marathon.

One of the dogs, a therapy dog named Spencer, passed away on February 17th at the ripe old age of 13. He had an inoperable cancer that proved to be fatal. Spencer became infamous for his role as the official race dog of the Boston Marathon. He would stand at Mile 3, holding up a Boston Strong flag, which the runners just loved, maybe a little too much. They would stop, take pictures with Spencer and his flag, and, in some cases, add precious seconds or even minutes to their finishing times. But, hey, it was Spencer, and he deserved the attention.

Sadly, a week after Spencer’s passing, Penny, one of Spencer’s litter mates, passed away too. Penny was just like Spencer in many ways, and she also had cancer, which was probably no coincidence. But what was truly remarkable was the bond they shared. Their owner, Rich Powers, was amazed at how they stuck together, seemingly inseparable. It was almost like they had a secret pact that they would make it to the Rainbow Bridge together.

So, let’s recap. Boston held a dog parade, and it wasn’t because of a championship win by the Red Sox, Celtics, or Bruins. Instead, it was to honor two golden retrievers that stole the hearts of everyone associated with the Boston Marathon. And even though they aren’t with us anymore, we can still remember them fondly with a smile on our faces. Because if there is one thing we know about dogs, it’s that they always leave us with a smile on our faces, even when they’re gone. Thanks, Spencer and Penny, you will be missed.

Serious News: nytimes