Meet the people readers voted Mr. and Mrs. Summit County

Melissa Davis and Brandon Ciullo could never have guessed that a car accident in Vail Pass in 2019 would have such a profound impact on their lives – and ultimately the lives of hundreds of pet owners in Summit County .

Both sprang into action when they learned how the crash had frightened a family’s dog, causing it to run off the highway into the backcountry. Before embarking on what turned out to be a 14-day mission to reunite the chihuahua mix and his owners, the two had never met face to face.

They knew each other from sharing social media posts on Facebook helping families search for lost pets in Summit County, but their interactions were always virtual until they found themselves volunteering side by side that day- there.

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The mission put them in touch with a woman from Montrose who had a lot of experience finding lost pets. She mentored the volunteers and introduced them to the Mission Animal Response Network, a professional training service that merges behavioral research with law enforcement-based techniques.

“She helped guide us and taught us a lot of things,” Davis said, remembering her and Ciullo’s experience. “After that successful mission, he and I talked, and we said, ‘You know, we can help save a lot more lost animals if we actually had a funded nonprofit.'”

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This idea began to become a reality after the two decided to start raising money to purchase equipment and have the opportunity to enroll in a training course offered by Mission Animal Response Network founder Kat Albrecht, former police sleuth, crime scene investigator and search and rescue officer. manager who travels abroad to train “pet detectives”.

In January 2020, the duo assembled a leadership team and officially co-founded and formed Summit Lost Pet Rescue, a nonprofit that has since reunited 548 dogs and 145 cats – 693 animals in total – with their owners as of September 20 2023. They earned their animal detective certifications in July 2020 and the organization blossomed from there.

Now with more than 100 volunteers and a network of more than 3,400 followers, Davis and Ciullo have fostered a community dedicated to helping families in need across the county, a majority of whom are local residents who are passionate about love and hope for those in need. . And with between 20 and 50 missions per month, Davis and Ciullo have changed many lives.

During the 2023 Best of Summit competition, Davis said she saw her supporters create and share posts asking the community to vote for her and Ciullo so they could be recognized for their efforts by winning the Mr. and Mrs. Summit titles County, as well as for their volunteers. » The dedication once again proved successful. Although they felt a little embarrassed about being put in the spotlight, they were both grateful for the community’s support.

“We are so lucky,” Davis said. “There is such an animal-loving community here, whether it’s cats or dogs. Obviously it’s a tourist town, but it’s still a small community town. That’s what we like. We know a lot of people personally, and they know us personally. …I am so grateful for all the love and support they give us.

“I’m grateful,” Ciullo said. “I feel shocked…and honored that Summit County chose us.”

Mr. Summit County

Ciullo was born in New York and raised on Long Island. He spent 24 years there until a trip changed its trajectory to what it is today.

“The trip that changed my life for good was this cruise to Alaska. I spent 10 days there. It was the first time I left New York and saw eagles and wildlife,” Ciullo said.

He went whitewater rafting, saw whales and experienced the wilderness and decided he wanted to leave New York to see the world.

Today, Ciullo centers his life around the outdoors and giving back to his community. He moved to Summit County in 2008 after living in Hawaii. For the past 15 years, he has worked at Arapahoe Cafe, a local watering hole for longtime residents and visitors to Summit County. His outdoor recreation skills and passion for helping people and pets led him to become a member of the Summit County Rescue Group, a whitewater rescuer and co-founder of Summit Lost Pet Rescue.

“He loves giving back to people,” Davis said. “He loves helping people. I mean, he stopped and helped some old people change their tires in the middle of a snowstorm – you know – he’s just that kind of person. He has a heart of gold.

When Ciullo reached his 30s, he decided Summit County was a good fit for him. He loves the community and the endless possibilities for adventure.

For anyone looking to move to Summit County, Ciullo said he hopes they find their passion.

“Find what you love to do and then learn how to do it safely,” he said.

Throughout his time in Summit County, Ciullo said he has learned invaluable skills from the search and rescue community and hopes to continue giving back to the community in any way he can.

“I’m pretty integrated. So I don’t think I’ll be leaving anytime soon. This is my home now – probably until the day I die,” he said. “I just want to continue to give back to the community and continue to save animals and people who need help.”

Ms. Summit County

Davis moved to Summit County in 2014 after meeting her husband, Sean Davis, who has lived in Summit County for more than 25 years.

After graduating from Ohio State University, she accepted a position with Denver-based AmeriCorps and spent two years volunteering across the country, assisting with natural disasters and other national corps initiatives. the peace. After marrying her husband in 2015, they decided to put down roots in Summit County. They had their first child, Tyler, in 2016 and bought a house the following year.

Using his outdoor recreation skills, experience with AmeriCorps, and experience planning corporate meetings and events, Davis co-founded Summit Lost Pet Rescue and hasn’t looked back since.

“Honestly, the sense of community is what I love most about Summit County,” she said. “I enjoy providing lost pet rescue services to Summit County to give back. The community is so supportive and we love giving back.

Her successful career wouldn’t be possible without her husband’s support, she said, as she regularly gets out of bed in the middle of the night to respond to tips sent in by community members about lost pets seen in the whole county.

“Congratulations to my husband,” she said. “He is the most supportive man I have ever known because he allowed me to give my heart, my soul and all my time to Summit Lost Pet Rescue. My team always thanks him and my son because we have to sacrifice a lot of our time to help find lost pets.

Although their search and rescue efforts can be grueling and demanding, Davis and Ciullo don’t plan to go anywhere anytime soon.

This story published in the Best of Summit 2023 Winners Guide. See full results at SummitDaily.com/best.