The dog called Sirius, a four-year-old yellow Labrador, that died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York, taught me something. A monument, was to be unveiled by the lab’s owner David Lim in Meaford’s Beautiful Joe Park on May 11, will pay tribute to all the dogs from the United States, Canada and Mexico that searched the rubble of the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon for survivors.
Reading about Sirius, sadly missed by his human partner, a New York Port Authority police officer, sent me to the Internet for more information about Beautiful Joe Park.Touched by the sad story of the dog for which Beautiful Joe Park is named, I was surprised to discover that his story was written by Nova Scotia author Margaret Marshall Saunders. The story of Beautiful Joe was the very first Canadian book to become an international best seller. Saunders heard the story of the Airedale pup she called Beautiful Joe while visiting her brother in Meaford, 35 kilometers west of Collingwood, in 1892.
As the story goes, Beautiful Joe, was one of six pups that belonged to a cruel local milkman. The mother of the pups was forced to make rounds with the abusive milkman, who used to beat the dog mercilessly when she displayed any sign of fatigue. When Joe followed his natural instincts to go to his mother’s rescue during one of the beatings, the abusive owner chopped his ears and tail off.
So touched was she in the presence of Beautiful Joe, Saunders decided to immortalize the story of his rescue by the Moore family of Meaford.
How Saunders got her book published is a story in itself. A year after meeting Beautiful Joe, she entered her story into a literary contest sponsored by the American Humane and Educational Society, who were looking for a sequel to Black Beauty.
Because women writers were not popular at that time, Saunders disguised her sex by using her middle name, Marshall. She won the contest, and a year later in 1893, Beautiful Joe was published, quickly becoming the first Canadian book to sell more than a million copies. Joe is buried in the park that bears his name, which is also home to a memorial to Canadian police dogs, and is eventually to have a dozen memorials, along with that of Sirius recognizing the contribution of animals.
Although the Beautiful Joe Heritage Society was formed in 1994 to celebrate the life and true story of Beautiful Joe, its sponsors would like to establish an International Canine Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding interaction between humans and canines. (Readers can write the society at 16 Trowbridge St. W., P.O. Box 4836, Meaford, Ont. N4L 1A1.)
Dog lovers everywhere know that canines served a valuable role in World War II and other wars. It is believed that over 9,000 handlers and 4,000 dogs served in Viet Nam.
Some of the stories of dogs wounded themselves, draping their bodies over the bodies of their injured handlers, are heartrending.
Hero dogs come in all breeds and sizes.
According to information on the Net, 'Smoky, a four-lb. Yorkie, served in the South Pacific and as an entertainer after the war. Smoky flew on combat missions in the Pacific, helped get an airbase operational in the Philippines, entertained troops and hospitalized soldiers.'
Animals contribute so much to the world of humans.
Ordinary, garden-variety dogs are just as heroic in everyday ways.
Who can write off the utter dedication of the Seeing Eye dog on busy city streets?
Dogs, and other pets, create small-undocumented miracles in their rehabilitation work with traumatized children and depressed seniors.
To their families, the four-legged stars of College Park, where we walk Toronto Free Press mascot Kiko, are everyday heroes. The stars include Max, Bosco, Gibbie (short for Gibson Girl), Roxy, Jake, Robbie, Bicho and Chiquita to name only a few.
Each one has his or her own special personality traits. The irrepressible shiatsu Chiquita, the most energetic of the bunch, maintains the same personality she had as a puppy. Making her happy home with the owners of the fabulous Elm Street restaurant. Donatello, Chiquita, the tail-wagging life of College Park, endears herself to anyone she meets.
Watching Kiko, Roxy, Bosco, Bicho, Chiquita and company cavorting in the park reminds me of the truth in the saying: "All creatures great and small, the Lord God made them all."
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
Pursuant to Title 17 U.S.C. 107, other copyrighted work is provided for educational purposes, research, critical comment, or debate without profit or payment. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for your own purposes beyond the 'fair use' exception, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Views are those of authors and not necessarily those of Canada Free Press. Content is Copyright 1997-2024 the individual authors. Site Copyright 1997-2024 Canada Free Press.Com Privacy Statement