Spencer the Boston Marathon Dog Statue

The bronze statue of a golden retriever holding two flags in its mouth stands at the intersection of Frankland Road and West Union Street in Ashland. This is the exact spot along the Boston Marathon route where Spencer, a real-life golden retriever, greeted thousands of runners for nine years. Beginning in two thousand fifteen, Spencer became a local fixture by holding “Boston Strong” flags in his mouth as athletes passed by. His presence gained national attention after a video of him cheering in the rain during the two thousand eighteen marathon went viral.