Beautiful Joe
Posted by: 
Yoho2001
N 44° 36.177 W 080° 35.688
17T E 532156 N 4938925
Meaford, Ontario, memorial to the dog which inspired a famous novel, which in turn kindled the campaign for humane treatment of animals.
Waymark Code: WM195Z
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 03/02/2007
Views: 91
Beautiful Joe Park is located in Meaford, Ontario, near the shore of Lake Huron. The town was the home of a dog rescued from a brutal owner, and whose story was related to author Margaret Marshall Saunders on a visit in 1892. She wrote the novel "Beautiful Joe" based on this true tale, writing from the dog's perspective, a unique vantage for the time. It became a best-seller, and spawned a movement for the humane treatment of animals.
A statue of Beautiful Joe greets visitors at the entrance, while an Ontario historical plaque marks his gravesite. Elsewhere in the park is a memorial to Sirius, a New York City police dog who died in the World Trade Center attack of Sept. 11, 2001.
Another monument acknowledges police canine units in general, and another memorializes dogs who serve as assistants to the physically-challenged.
Text of the Ontario plaque to Beautiful Joe:
Born in Milton, Nova Scotia, Margaret Marshall Saunders, (1861-1947) taught school briefly before starting her career as a novelist. Her second book, 'Beautiful Joe', received international recognition. Inspired during a visit to Meaford about 1892, it is based on the story on a dog rescued from a brutal master by a local miller, William Moore. This novel, first published in 1894, appeared in several editions and enjoyed phenomenal success. It was printed in at least ten languages, and seven million copies had been sold by 1939. Miss Saunders, who settled in Toronto in 1914, was awarded the C.B.E. in 1934, in recognition of her contribution toward securing humane treatment for animals.
Type of Memorial: statue
Type of Animal: other
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Visit Instructions:
Proof of visit is required. The easiest proof is a gps photo of the memorial. GPS photos will always be acceptable proof. Individual waymarks may ask for an alternative type of proof of visit.