Nestled in the mountains, about 40 miles north of Los Angeles, The Gentle Barn is a unique rescue facility offering treatments to help animals overcome trauma. Founded by Ellie Laks, this sanctuary provides a haven for animals who have endured severe hardship, transforming their lives with care and compassion. In return, these animals offer profound healing to human visitors. Laks, an “animal communicator,” credits animals with saving her from depression. She has dedicated her life to helping them heal from their traumas.
Innovative Therapies for Animals
The Gentle Barn employs a variety of therapies to aid in the rehabilitation of its animal residents. Acupuncture, for example, has proven beneficial for animals suffering from torn ACLs, bad hips, and severe arthritis. Combined with standard veterinary care, the animals also receive holding and massage therapies, which play a significant role in their recovery. “Every single week, they blossom. They heal. We can see it in front of our eyes,” Laks says. Each animal at The Gentle Barn has a unique story of survival and resilience. For instance, turkeys that were destined for dinner plates now show affection and cuddle with visitors, demonstrating the profound impact of love and care.
Animals as Healers
The Gentle Barn is not just a sanctuary for animals; it also serves as a place of solace for human visitors seeking comfort from their emotional scars. The animals’ stories of survival inspire people to find strength and healing within themselves. One notable resident is John Lewis Thunderbolt, a cow saved from a slaughterhouse. Laks nursed him back to health in her living room, becoming his surrogate mother during his recovery from pneumonia. Many animals at The Gentle Barn, genetically engineered to grow large and be slaughtered young, are given a second chance at life here. They even participate in “cow hug therapy,” which Laks describes as a deeply nurturing experience.
The Power of Connection
Hailey Bonus, a visitor to The Gentle Barn, hopes that cow hugs can help her navigate unimaginable grief. After losing her 4-month-old son Wyatt during a nap, traditional therapy provided some relief, but she found the warmth of cow hugs incredibly powerful. Just last week, Bonus gave birth to a baby girl and finds the experience at The Gentle Barn profoundly healing. “Hugs can lower blood pressure and soften feelings of anger and loneliness,” says Bonus, noting that the healing occurred during her cow hug without her even consciously realizing it.
Laks has witnessed countless lives transformed at The Gentle Barn. While some might be skeptical of cow hug therapy, she invites everyone to experience the connection for themselves. “When you feel that connection with those cows, it does something,” she says. Despite recent concerns about bird flu detected in dairy farms across nine states, The Gentle Barn remains unaffected. The Department of Agriculture and the FDA continue to monitor the situation, and Laks assures that the cows at The Gentle Barn are healthy.