The animals at Santa Barbara Humane have never met a donor quite like Ryan Cappelluti. The UCSB undergraduate has the biggest heart, and his support of the dogs and cats at the nonprofit is unique, both in its origin story and in its ongoing impact.
After Cappelluti and his girlfriend broke up, he decided to sell the two Lakers tickets he had for an upcoming game. Rather than pocketing the profits, his generous nature pushed him in another direction. He asked his ex-girlfriend to choose an organization to receive the money as a donation in her honor.
Cappelluti said the choice of Santa Barbara Humane felt right because he had grown up supporting animals. His family volunteered with Guide Dogs for the Blind during his childhood in Sacramento. His mother still volunteers with their local SPCA, and their family dog was rescued after a hurricane in Puerto Rico.
“We have always adopted dogs,” Cappelluti said. After making the initial $500 donation, he said, “Giving back felt good.” He was given a tour of the Santa Barbara campus, and he wanted to do more.
Just days after his first contribution, Cappelluti returned to the shelter with another. And then another.
Through his work as a valet in the Santa Barbara area, he had found another avenue to support animals in need on an ongoing basis. Cappelluti decided to donate all of his one-dollar tips to Santa Barbara Humane. Every few weeks, he will be back at the shelter to make his impact.
“I have all I need, so this is something I can do,” he said.
Cappelluti’s hundreds of dollar bills have already helped so many at Santa Barbara Humane, and he has just gotten started: “It’s inspiring to see a college student paving the way with commitment, creativity, and compassion,” said Kerri Burns, Santa Barbara Humane’s CEO.
Santa Barbara Humane is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that was one of the first animal welfare agencies in the country, 67 years before the national organization was founded. Santa Barbara Humane operates two campuses, in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, providing care for community-owned and homeless animals.
Both campuses offer affordable veterinary care, compassionate behavior training programs, and a relinquishment program for owners who can no longer care for their pets. Homeless animals receive medical care, shelter, and basic behavior training until their adoption.
Because it is a local organization not affiliated with or funded by the national Humane Society or SPCA, Santa Barbara Humane relies on local donor support to ensure every dog and cat gets the care they need.