The runner who encountered the beautiful golden retriever offered tributes on societal media .
Spencer , the treasuredgolden retrieverwho cheered on thousands of Boston Marathon runners with his " Boston Strong " flag , died this calendar month at 13 after struggle several rounds of cancer .
Holding signal flag in his mouth , Spencer was a fixture on the marathon itinerary beginning in 2015 . He was named the Official Dog of the 126th Boston Marathon last year , and the Marathon announced this week that hewould hold back that title perpetually .
Photo: David L. Ryan / The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Spencer , who also work as atherapy dog , was " an holy person on Earth , " his possessor , photographer Richard Powers , wrote on Instagram . He overcame Cancer the Crab ( and a 3.5 - Cypriot pound tumor ) in 2020 — in enough clock time to inspirationally attend the 2021 marathon .
Unfortunately , he was diagnose with " inoperable " liver Crab in September , and he die out Feb. 17 . He was with his phratry .
office toldGood Morning Americathat his dog ’s popularity really carry off in 2018 when he advert the inhuman , wet race in a rain jacket . It delighted the runners that year , and many athletes offered touching testimonial to Spencer on Powers ’s Instagram post .
" I come across Spencer while I was running the 2022 Boston Marathon , " drug user heidi_lynn wrote . " I pet him and whispered in his ear — I’m a cancer survivor too . It truly felt like a magical minute and was the high spot of my subspecies . "
I ’ve never done anything as physically demanding as running a marathon , but I can imagine how happy I ’d be to see a beautiful lucky retriever rooting me on .
" Like many others , I loved see Spencer on the class ! " user wwultrakim wrote . " The unadulterated cheerleader just when we needed it ! "
" I feel so lucky Spencer was a part of one of the secure daytime of my life , " mutiger1016 publish . " He was a treasure to all of us . Thank you for sharing him with this total community ! "
Back in January , Spencer attended theunveiling of his portrait , a arresting characterisation of him holding his flags in the blowing wind . The picture , by Tom Mosser , hang in the Powers ’s menage .
" The muckle of Spencer ’s ears blowing in the current of air as he hold the marathon banners so firmly on that cold and rainy day is so iconic , " Mosser said in a statement . " I ’ve run five marathons so I especially make love watch the grinning of the runners each year as they saw him . It was such a pleasure create the piece to celebrate Spencer and the Boston Marathon . "
