Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Savoca.
Tom, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
This story is about a Therapy Dog Team. First, let me define what a Therapy Dog is; they are pets that are certified or registered with an organization who tests them to assure they are good with people and children and then the team is INVITED into schools, hospitals, Churches and other venues. Once the dog passes, the organization will ensure the dog and offer some guidance and direction. We are with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs https://www.therapydogs.com (public activities) AND Canine’s For Christ http://k9forchrist.org (activities for Calvary Chapel).
My Therapy Dog’s name is Coco, she is a 7 yr old German Shepherd. We started doing therapy dog visits at an Adult Day Care in Margate, FL around 2013. Then, we went on to visit Nursing Homes & Children’s Special Needs class for Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. We visit the Summer Program at JR Achievement of South Florida in Coconut Creek and FKA in Margate. We are part of the Margate Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program which is part of the Fire Department. Coco is one of, if not the first Therapy Dog with a CERT program in the country. She is also the City of Margate Mascot and as such we attend most city public functions, parades, and concerts. We occasionally do public events with the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department and other CERT programs. We are in the process of becoming a Fort Lauderdale Airport Ambassador Dog. All our activities are documented on Coco’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/pg/coco.german.shepherd.dog/
Special qualified Therapy Dogs can also be used to comfort people; during court proceedings, investigative interviews and during or after natural or man made emergencies. These are Therapy Dogs that has more experience, tolerance, and abilities to handle more stressful situations. They can also be called Crisis Canines, Disaster Relief Dogs or K9 Comfort Dogs (think Fema). Coco has been in the process of being prepared for that type of work as part of the Margate CERT Program.
This story will entail my involvement with Coco offering therapy and comfort to the victims and families of the Douglas High School Shooting in Parkland.
This is how it started:
On February 14, 2018, I got a call from a leader in my CERT program that we were activated for a school shooting in Parkland, FL. Upon arrival, we joined other CERT program Members and supplied the Police and Fire Rescue personnel food and water until approx 9:30 pm that evening. We involved with the Fire Rescue Debriefing that night.
On Thursday morning, I took the Margate CERT Program Therapy Dog to the Parkland Rec Center to offer comfort to the victims and families who were there for the grief counseling offered by the city. We primarily worked inside the rec center for most of the day. Emotionally this was more challenging for me than being at the actual event. At approx 4 pm, we went to the Westglades Middle school to offer comfort to teachers and students affected by the shooting.
Later that day, at approx 6 pm, we visited the Coral Springs Police/Fire Dispatch to comfort the Dispatchers who had been working during the shooting, the emotions they go through answering the phones and talking to victims and being on the radios trying to direct the police and fire personnel can take a toll. I personally don’t know how they do it. Coral Springs Police and Fire were one of the first and primary First Responders involved.
On Friday, February 16, 2018, I took Coco back to the Parkland Rec Center to offer comfort and compassion to all affected by the shooting. We worked both inside the building were we interacted and responded to assist grief counselors and outside where there were memorials being built and families meeting to be consoled. We did what we could to offer comfort to those who needed it. There were individuals and families obviously in pain and emotionally drained from the shooting.
On Saturday, February 17, 2018, I returned to the Parkland Rec Center with Coco as part of Canines For Christ, not the Margate CERT Program. This means Coco and I wear different shirts and identification. Because the Red Cross took over all the grief counseling from the School District we were told we couldn’t enter the building to help out. This was a big disappointment and from my experience of the previous two days a big mistake of the Red Cross. We stayed outside and offered comfort and therapy to everyone we could. We also took part in an interview with FOX news out of Atlanta.
On Saturday, February 17, 2018, around 6 pm and 10:30 pm, Coco and I visited the Broward Sheriff’s Office North 911 Center in Coconut Creek to offer comfort and a cheerful distraction to their stressful and tough job. A picture of Coco with a dispatcher was posted on the Broward Sheriff’s Office and used in a few national news stories.
On Sunday, February 18, 2018, round 3:30 pm Coco and I visited the Broward Central Dispatch Center in Sunrise.
On Monday, February 19, 2018, at approx 3:45 pm, Coco and I visited the Broward Sheriff’s Office South 911 Communication Center located in Pembroke Pines.
http://cbs12.com/news/local/therapy-dogs-help-ease-stress-at-broward-county-sheriffs-office
about 23 seconds in – http://abcnews.go.com/US/comfort-dogs-descend-florida-community-deadly-school-shooting/story?id=53228399
On Sunday, February 18, Coco and I offered comfort to a special gathering at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale of families affected by the shooting. https://www.facebook.com/pg/coco.german.shepherd.dog/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1739433066121527
On Tuesday, February 20, 2018, Coco and I went to Church by the Glades for their Hope for Douglas event organized and supported by First Priority and other Churches in the Broward area.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/coco.german.shepherd.dog/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1739433066121527
With the Margate CERT members, we attended a Relay For Life event at Douglas High school where they honored the first responders by having them do a special lap before the actual event started. It was there that we bumped into a fan of Coco’s, the Coconut Creek Officer who caught the Douglas Shooter. We also met the Parkland Commissioners and many other great people who responded to the incident. https://www.facebook.com/pg/coco.german.shepherd.dog/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1837224289675737
We made personal visits to the home of one of the victims.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not everyone sees the value of Therapy Dogs. I think after the unfortunate incidents of the last year their use has proved them to be an asset more valuable than expected.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Therapy Dog Handler – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Besides being a Therapy dog, Coco has won trick contests so we can have kids have her do tricks for them. Sometimes the parents and adults are more surprised than the kids when the full-grown German Shepherd will sit or down for them when they only have to move their hand up or down. https://www.facebook.com/coco.german.shepherd.dog/videos/1738763892855111/
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We have plans to visit the Boys and Girls Club of Broward – https://www.facebook.com/pg/coco.german.shepherd.dog/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1777054655692701 and continue to be involved with CERT Programs in Broward County.
I do want to do more Therapy Dog activities including more Therapy Dog Training to get more dogs out there to comfort people.
Contact Info:
- Website: Tomsavoca.com
- Phone: 754-227-9876
- Email: tom@tomsavoca.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coco_german_shepherd_dog/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/coco.german.shepherd.dog
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomsavoca
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/DogTrainingDoesMatter/
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
