Inside Italy’s Capra Libera Tutti Sanctuary

What happens when an animal sanctuary becomes more than a place of rescue?

At Capra Libera Tutti in Italy, animals who were once viewed as commodities are given the opportunity to live as individuals. They form friendships, make choices and develop relationships on their own terms.

In this episode of Better Life for Animals, host Cheryl Moss talks with Simone Scampoli, Executive Director of Capra Libera Tutti, about how sanctuaries can change not only the lives of animals, but also the way humans see and relate to them.

From Farm to Sanctuary

Capra Libera Tutti began on land that was once a farm.

A pivotal moment came when founder Massimo sold baby lambs and heard their mothers crying for them. Instead of ignoring what he was hearing, he went looking for the lambs and was able to bring some of them back.

Later, he encountered young goats destined for slaughter and left with 11 of them. What began as an effort to find those animals somewhere safe to live eventually transformed the former farm into Capra Libera Tutti.

It is a powerful example of what can happen when people allow themselves to truly see the animals in front of them.

Giving Animals Agency

One of the most compelling parts of Simone’s philosophy is the importance of animal agency.

At Capra Libera Tutti, animals have space to make decisions, form friendships and develop their own social structures. With access to mountain land, they can explore and interact while still receiving the care and protection they need.

Simone says something remarkable has developed over time. Established residents can help newly rescued animals learn how to navigate their new environment.

Visitors are encouraged to observe these relationships rather than simply interact with the animals. As Simone explains, sanctuaries are not petting zoos. The animals are individuals, not attractions.

Storytelling, Education and Change

Capra Libera Tutti welcomes people who are not vegan, and Simone believes reaching them is an important part of the sanctuary’s work.

Rather than expecting visitors to arrive already sharing the sanctuary’s beliefs, the team uses storytelling, observation and education to help people make their own connections.

This approach is especially powerful with young people.

Before taking a photo or reaching out to touch an animal, Simone encourages children to stop and observe. They may see an animal eating, sleeping, playing or communicating with another animal.

Then something interesting happens. The children realize the animals are observing them, too.

That shift can help a young person recognize an animal as an individual who thinks, communicates, forms relationships and makes decisions.

Simone finds young people are often very open to these ideas, although family beliefs and pushback can sometimes make change more challenging.

Building a Community That Sustains the Work

Like many sanctuaries, fundraising is an ongoing challenge.

Much of Capra Libera Tutti’s support comes from ordinary people making small monthly donations. Simone believes keeping those supporters connected to the work is essential.

People need to understand what their donations make possible and feel that they are part of the sanctuary community.

Animal advocacy can also take an emotional and physical toll on the people doing the work. Simone talks openly about the importance of rest, teamwork and recognizing progress.

For him, the animals themselves remain one of the greatest sources of motivation. Animals who were once victims are now, as Simone describes them, the protagonists of their own lives.

Why Sanctuaries Matter

This conversation is a powerful reminder that sanctuaries do far more than rescue animals.

They give people an opportunity to meet animals as individuals rather than products or statistics. Through storytelling, education and direct experience, they can challenge long-held beliefs about who animals are.

Capra Libera Tutti offers a glimpse of a different future, one where animals are recognized as individuals with relationships, preferences and lives that matter.

Episode Highlights

[00:00] Intro

[2:15] A living example of what caring looks like

[3:30] From animal activism to sanctuary work

[5:45] A goat changes everything

[8:00] A safe environment for animals

[11:00] Sanctuaries are not petting zoos

[16:00] Open to educating carnivores

[19:43] Young people are very open to change

[25:30] Family pushback can be challenging

[27:45] Fundraising strategies that work

[31:00] How Simone refuels in order to continue this work.

About Simone Scampoli

Simone Scampoli has extensive experience in international animal rights movements and has been contributing to the development of Capra Libera Tutti since 2019, where he now serves as Executive Director.

In this role, he helps coordinate the sanctuary’s strategic development, educational programs, fundraising, partnerships, and international outreach. He also leads educational projects with schools and universities, bringing antispeciesism into dialogue with new generations and institutions.

Through his work, Simone presents Capra Libera Tutti as a pioneering living environment and cultural space, where new relationships between humans and other animals can be experienced in practice. The sanctuary becomes a place of transformation, offering a glimpse of a different future rooted in care, justice, and liberation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-scampoli

https://www.instagram.com/simonescampoli/

https://www.facebook.com/simon.appleton.ss/

www.youtube.com/@santuariocapraliberatutti

Capra Libera Tutti’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/santuariocapraliberatutti

Capra Libera Tutti’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capraliberatutti/

Capra Libera Tutti’s X: https://x.com/capraliberatutt

Capra Libera Tutti’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/capra-libera-tutti/

Capra Libera Tutti’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capraliberatutti?_r=1&_t=ZN-96pvSHeuvXK

https://capraliberatutti.org/

About Cheryl Moss

Cheryl Moss is the host of the Better Life for Animals podcast, where she shares uplifting stories from sanctuaries and highlights the work of vegan activists, ethical consumers, and animal welfare leaders. She is also the founder of the Funding Blueprint for Sanctuaries summit, designed to empower those involved with sanctuaries to create sustainable funding streams.

A passionate advocate for animal welfare, Cheryl is dedicated to ending factory farming and supporting underrepresented sanctuaries.

Beyond podcasting, Cheryl is a banking professional and an accomplished children’s author. A graduate of Main Street Vegan Academy, she recently added Vystopia Transformation to her resume. The Vystopia work, created by psychologist Clare Mann, focuses on the emotional impact many people experience after becoming aware of animal suffering and exploitation. The training offers tools for resilience, communication, and emotional well-being while continuing to advocate for positive change.

Through her books, Gabriel, Cluck, and Pickle the Pig, Cheryl inspires young readers to embrace kindness, sustainability, and compassion for animals.

When not advocating, she enjoys Pilates and spending time with her rescue dogs and grandchildren. Through her work, writing, and activism, Cheryl continues to inspire positive change for animals and the planet.

https://www.facebook.com/BLFAnimals/