24 years - The Gentle Barn Anniversary
Posted on Aug 24, 2023
By Ellie Laks, Founder of The Gentle Barn
As we approach our twenty fourth anniversary, I am flooded with gratitude for the people across the globe who have supported our efforts and enabled us to get this far. Behind every beautiful animal that we have saved, and there are thousands, are the hearts of our generous donors who lifted us up, strengthened us, and allowed us to say yes. Jay and I, our staff, Board of Directors, and volunteers have rolled up our sleeves in the trenches to breathe the life back into broken animals, keep them clean, cared for, and be by their sides for their recovery, joyful lives, and last breaths, but it is our donors who make it all possible. Thank you!
As I wrote in my book, My Gentle Barn, after dreaming about it since the age of seven, I finally created The Gentle Barn in my half-acre backyard in Tarzana, California, after discovering an abusive petting zoo. I brought home a dying goat who asked me for help, and once she blossomed, I knew I had to do more. Discovering that the authorities would do nothing about the egregious abuse and neglect there, I soon went back and brought home many more animals. I healed them one by one and a few months later, I realized that I had started my dream to have a place full of animals and show the world how beautiful they are. Jay came in a few years later as a volunteer, got more involved, and a year later we fell in love and joined forces to save even more animals and expand our mission.
Over the last two decades, we have healed veal calves who were too weak to stand and puppies with parvo who the veterinarian wanted to euthanize. With great veterinary care, Sun Chlorella Algae SuperFood, and holding therapy, they lived! We brought in horses lame from being overused, and pigs, turkeys, chickens, and cows snatched last minute from the fateful jaws of the meat industry. Jay has gone into the darkest places on earth to save animals, and I have sung to them, read out loud to them, meditated with them, and stopped at nothing to heal them.
Over the last twenty-four years, we have gone from being worried about saying the word Vegan for fear of upsetting people to the word becoming mainstream with Vegan options not only in stores and restaurants but at most fast-food chains. Loving animals and being gentle to them is getting easier and easier! Once the animals are happy and healthy, we partner with them to heal people suffering from the same stories of trauma and connect people to the love and magic of these resilient teachers, healers, and angels.
We still have much work to do for animals who have nowhere else to go, who are awaiting a chance to come and recover at The Gentle Barn. After the pandemic, we now have more humans than ever that are in need of the sanctuary offered here. Your generosity enables us to say yes to the next rescue and yes to the next hurting human. Thank you for twenty-four years of lifting us up. We are honored and grateful to do this work on your behalf. With you by our side, Jay and I are looking forward to many more years of service! Happy Anniversary!