By Karen McBride
Ten years ago, Harry Toro purchased two Cane Corsos, an Italian breed of mastiff. The pair were descendants from a long line of champion dogs. He enjoyed the dogs so much that he purchased two more from a breeder in Florida. Little did he know that his love for these beautiful companions would lead him down a path to helping veterans and first responders to heal from the trauma experienced in the line of duty.
Harry, a former professional fighter, suffers from a traumatic brain injury brought on by years of fighting. He experienced firsthand how the dogs helped him cope with some of the challenges he goes through by keeping him calm and focused on the dogs.
“They are so comforting,” said Harry.
A family member had been in the service for 20 years. After 10 years in retirement, he began experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (“PTSD”). God placed it on his heart for Harry to give him one of the puppies from the litter. Only a few months later, he got a call from the family member’s wife saying he was doing so much better. It was amazing how quickly he began to heal from the trauma thanks to the Corso.
“These dogs save lives. They need you. They follow you all around and that is why they make great service dogs,” said Harry.
You may see Harry, together with teammates Doreen and RL, in a 30-foot refurbished school bus they use to transport the dogs to events. The eye-catching bus is wrapped on one side with the six branches of the military and the other side is first responders.
The crew of Corsos for Heroes participates in events throughout the year. The most recent one was held on February 18, 2023 in Sanford Florida. Corsos for Heroes gave a presentation of the dogs to bring awareness to their ministry and donated their 30th dog to an individual. The event was sponsored by Seminole Harley, Veteran Enforcers Motorcycle Association (VEMA USA) and food was provided by Bikers Against Trafficking.
Once a puppy has been donated, Harry takes his ministry a step further by looking for non-profits in the owner’s area to get the dog certified as a service dog. One such organization is in Brooksville, named K9 Partners for Patriots. Their services are free and Harry has trained seven dogs for the new owners.
At this time, Harry is the sole supporter and needs funding for the ministry. For more information about Corsos for Heroes and to find out how you can become a sponsor to support the ministry, visit https://corsosforheroes.com, find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Corsos4Heroes or call 805-453-9351.