We have so many IACP members doing PHENOMENAL things around the world! IACP wants to take the time to put a spotlight on some of these hard-working individuals and give them space to share a little bit about what they’ve been up to.
Today, we are featuring Tom Savoca.
Tom and his German Shepherd, Coco, have made an impact on hundreds of lives. Read more about Tom’s story below.
“My parents raised German Shepherds show dogs when I was a kid, so I grew up with at least one GSD around. They built a dog and cat boarding business which included a dog training service. In ’90 I moved to South Florida and got involved in Law Enforcement and Security. In 2000, I switched professions and learned Web Development and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Most of my clients are Dog Trainers which eventually motivated me to do more dog training. Around 2011 we got a German Shepherd Puppy (Coco).
About a year after we got Coco I started teaching her tricks.
In 2014 she won 1st place for Dog Tricks at the Woofstock event in Sunrise, FL. and first prize at the South FL Pet Expo Trick Contest. I think we won the South FL Pet Expo a few more times. I started doing Therapy Dog activities with her, we regularly visited an Adult Day Care in Margate and the Special Needs Ministry at Calvary Chapel Church in Fort Lauderdale. We continue to attend Calvary Chapel Kids Ministry but not as often as in years past.
In 2015 she came in second in the Dog Tricks contest at the City of Plantations Doggie Palooza event. We joined the City of Margate’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Coco was one of the first CERT dogs in the country. We were involved with most of the City of Margate’s events like the Winter Carnival, July 4th Parade and Celebration, Veteran Day and Memorial Day Ceremony, Fall Festival, Shop with a Cop, National Night Out, Backpack giveaway for students, Trunk or Treat, Coffee with a Cop.
In 2017 she won the Dog Tricks contest at the City of Plantations Doggie Palooza event.
In 2018 we went to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School days after the shooting, when the students returned to the school. We also visited the Broward Sheriff’s Office Communication Centers to offer comfort to the Dispatchers after the shooting. We attended Therapy Dog Thursdays at the City of Parkland Rec center for a few months after the incident. We continue to go to the annual appreciation events for the First Responders at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
In 2020, COVID-19 changed many things, some people didn’t even know they could legally go outside and walk their dog. So I started organizing dog walks. Primarily we walked on the C-14 canal in Margate, at the Promenade in Coconut Creek and at the Atlantic Blvd, and the Everglades.
I have been helping people with their dogs since 2012 – 2013 when I was doing trick contests with Coco but once I organized the walks, I had people paying me to help them with their dogs that had been stuck with them in their houses. Another Covid phenomenon was “covid puppies”, since people were stuck in their houses more they got dogs. Some shelters almost emptied out because so many people wanted a dog to keep them company while they were stuck in the house. This also helped me make more of a business out of my hobby of helping people with their dogs.
In 2021 Coco and I responded to the Building Collapse in Surfside, FL. a few days after the incident. Our primary mission was to comfort the First Responders on the scene. One of the shifts we spent with the Miami Dade, Miami Beach Crime Scene workers. The other days we moved around the area offering comfort to the First Responders working the active scene.
Tom, we are so proud to have you as a member of the IACP. Your dedication and genuine desire to helping bring joy to people’s lives is infectious. Thank you for all that you do.