We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tom Savoca a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tom, thanks for joining us today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?
In June 24, 2021, early in the morning the Champlain Towers South, a 12-story beachfront condominium in the Miami suburb of Surfside, Florida, partially collapsed causing almost 100 deaths.
Days after the event I travelled to Surfside with Coco the City of Margate, FL Therapy Dog to offer comfort to the 1st responders actively working the scene. Coco and I moved around the area and mixed in with the First Responders to provide comfort to those who were working tirelessly in search of any survivors in the wreckage. In some cases Coco provided a temporary distraction from the scene around them.
In Aug of 2019, Coco and I visited the North Broward Sheriff’s Office Communication Center and the Police Officers debriefing because of an officer involved shooting in the City of Coconut Creek, FL. At both activities Coco offered comfort to those involved in such a dangerous and stressful situation.
In Sept 2018 Coco and I responded the following days of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland FL. Some of our activities were at the school with the students as they returned to after the shooting. We also did a special visits to a family in Parkland who had a member of the family injured from the shooting. We also participated for weeks in Therapy Dog Thursdays at the City of Parkland Rec Center.
In addition we are involved with most of the City of Margate events like Coffee with a Cop, city Summer Camps for kids and Senior Centers. We are also involved with the Winter Festival and riding with the Police or Fire Dept in the annual July 4th parades.
We also have been visiting Elementary Schools in the Margate area on a weekly basis since 2018.
Tom, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
In 2011 my wife and I adopted a German Shepherd Puppy that she named Coco. In 2014 Coco and I got certified by Canine Assisted Therapy, a local Therapy Dog organization. One of the first places we visited regularly was an Adult Day Care in Margate, FL and a Special Needs Ministry (Kings Kids) at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. In 2015 Coco and I got more involved with the City of Margate, at first we were with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. From there I did more for the city and often reported directly to the City Commission and Mayor. Now Coco and I volunteers with the City of Margate Police Dept. In 2018 the Margate Police Dept recommended me to the Broward County TRIAD Leadership Council where I was awarded Citizen of the Year for my volunteering.
Covid slowed down some of our Therapy Dog activities but for the most part Coco and I continue to visit elementary schools in the area on a regular basis.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
Since my passion for Therapy Dog activities and my work as a Dog Trainer go hand in hand, I would not go back and change what I do.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Networking is one of the most important aspects of what I do. Most all my Therapy Dog activities and many of my Dog Training clients come from networking. Having a skill is important, but without the ability to network and get along well with others even the most skilled will not reach their potential.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tomsavoca.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coco_german_shepherd_dog/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tom.savoca/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomassavoca/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomsavoca
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasSavoca/featured