Courtesy of The Gentle Barn
This March, six St. Louis cows caused a stir when they escaped from a Hyde Park slaughterhouse and ran through the streets.
So much so that an animal sanctuary nearly 2,000 miles away in Santa Clarita, California received word and decided to do something. The Gentle Barn provides a home for unwanted and abused animals—everything from cows, goats, pigs, sheep, horses, dogs, to parrots—and rehabilitates them, then works with local agencies to connect them with underprivileged and special needs children.
Along with its farm in California, The Gentle Barn also has a location in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founders Ellie Laks and Jay Weiner hope to open many more across the country. They decided to continue the effort with St. Louis after receiving a call from former Blues captain David Backes and his wife, Kelly. They alerted Laks and Weiner that, after the six escaped cows were recaptured, they would be slaughtered the next morning. Weiner hopped on a red eye to St. Louis, and the cows are now on a foster farm and await a more permanent home.
Courtesy of The Gentle Barn
Laks and Weiner have a property in mind for their Gentle Barn in St. Louis, and they've reached out to the public via a GoFundMe campaign to help with the purchase.
"It's a beautiful property, absolutely perfect, complete with barns and open pastures," Laks says. They have until June 2 to raise $400,000 to show the sellers proof of funds.
"It would be a huge asset if we could get one of these in the St. Louis area," Backes said in a video message posted on his Twitter page.
As of publication time, the campaign has raised almost half of its goal in 13 days. Celebrities are also voicing their support. Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw are donating an autographed hockey stick and autographed baseballs, respectively, to be auctioned off. Yesterday, musician Rick Springfield even pledged his support. Those who write "Rick" with their GoFundMe contributions will have their name entered (for every $20 increment) to win a gold record plaque of his hit "Jessie's Girl."
"People are so generous," Laks says.
The Gentle Barn aims to heal more than animals. The other component of the organization focuses on at-risk and special needs children. The organization works with agencies, schools, foster homes, and more to connect children with Gentle Barn animals.
"We ask those agencies to identify their part of the population that is not responding to traditional therapy," Laks says. "There are some children who don't want to talk or who don't want to be vulnerable."
These children can then come to The Gentle Barn and learn about and interact with animals that have stories similar to their own.
Courtesy of The Gentle Barn
Courtesy of The Gentle Barn
"By hearing an animal's story and knowing it's their own, by meeting an animal that's gone through exactly what they're gone through, by seeing that the animal's recovered and learned to trust and found joy again, it inspires the children to do the same," Laks says.
If the funding goal is met, Laks hopes The Gentle Barn in St. Louis could open in August or September.
To donate, visit The Gentle Barn's GoFundMe campaign.
