Hosanna was rescued from a hoarder with her two friends, Lynus and Snoopy. They were very scared when they came here, and would even charge us to defend…

We are so sad that our Blossom has passed away. It was sudden and, although we knew he didn’t have long, unexpected. Blossom was a broiler chicken,…

Charlie the rooster was rescued from life in a cage. He was incarcerated for so long that his toes were deformed, and his nails curled into his foot.…

Gentle Ben was rescued from a petting zoo that was closing down. After holding still for pats and being kind to all their guests, he was being sent…

Andrew was used as a stud horse for twenty five years. Kept in a twelve by twelve stall and treated aggressively, he lived with loneliness and sadness.…

Mufasa was hatched in a classroom and sent home with one of the students. When he started crowing it became a problem with the neighbors and we were…

Alice was rescued from Thanksgiving along with four other turkey sisters. They were all nervous and scared of us at first, but soon began to heal and…

Mango was rescued from extreme cruelty with many other animals, including her son Thumper. One of the sheep they came in with was Shirley Temple…

Ten years ago we went to look at some horses at a local horse rescue. Other organizations know that we take in animals no one else wants, so they call…

Carlyle was one of twenty chicks rescued from a poultry farm and brought to The Gentle Barn Tennessee to live a better life and spread awareness of…

Socks was about to be euthanized at an animal shelter after being adopted and returned three times because she had so much energy. She could get over…

This week we helped Claire out of her body, walked her home, and set her free. Before she left, I told her that she had done an excellent job here,…

Cinnamon was ridden so hard for so many years that when we found her she was in pain and could barely walk. At The Gentle Barn she is given deep tissue…

Esther was rescued along with ten siblings from a very busy road. Neighbors had no idea where they came from, and after knocking on all doors could…

Benny was rescued from being eaten on Thanksgiving. It is very common for turkey farmers to carry them by their legs and in doing so, they broke her…

Tommy the turkey was raised by someone who thought that it would be cool to raise their own Thanksgiving dinner. But when it was time to kill him, the…

Zeus was born at a county fair. When a teenager found out that all the animals were going to slaughter after the fair closed she bought Zeus for $50…

Star was part of our very first veal calf rescue years ago. He was taken away from his mom at a day old, put into a veal crate alone, and at eight weeks…

Crystal was one of six calves born at a dairy, taken from their moms, held in veal crates, sent to auction at 8 weeks, and saved by The Gentle Barn…

Before she came to us, Lilly was kept as a breeding pig. She had her food thrown over the fence to her and her babies taken away. For 15 years she lived…

Ryan was one of the smartest, funniest, most resourceful friends we have ever had. He played with all the other goats and they all loved him. He fell…

Our sweet girl, Daisy, left her body today. She had breakfast this morning and joined her turkey and chicken friends in the barn for the day before…

We rescued Sassy from an extreme cruelty case, along with 60 other animals. She was underweight, scared, filthy, and traumatized. With top quality feed,…

Truffles was rescued from an abandoned pumpkin patch after Halloween. She was left with the trash, no straw, no food, and no shelter. We took her in,…

Serenity was enslaved at the dairy industry where she had many babies taken from her before she herself was sent to slaughter. Luckily we saved her…

Bluebell came in with over 60 other animals, rescued from a severe cruelty case. She and her sister, patience were very sick and scared,
and we…

Vegan was born blind, on a beef ranch. Ironically, his blindness is what saved him. The farmer's wife fell in love with him and wouldn't let the farmer…

Daisy was only a yearling when we rescued her from severe abuse and neglect. Grossly underweight, afraid, dirty, infested with lice and parasites, she…

In the 1980s Vietnamese pot bellied pigs where being imported into the United States and were being sold as pets. Because they were so cute when they…

Surprise was born unexpectedly at The Gentle Barn months after rescuing his mom from slaughter. Our bovine family encircled Surprise and watched the…

Nalla was rescued from Thanksgiving in 2014. She came in filthy and terrified. After several months of good food, clean water, and gentle hands, Nalla…

Snoopy was rescued from a hoarder with a few other pigs and 500 other animals. She suffered terribly when she was there with no food, extreme temperatures,…

Wilbur was rescued from severe physical abuse. He was smashed over the back with a chair and was permanently crippled by his "person."

He was…

Puffy was a happy backyard chicken, along with her sisters, when neighborhood dogs broke in to the yard and started killing off the birds. The family…

Prince Charming was ridden so hard his knees swelled and he could barely walk. He was then tied to the bumper of a car at a boarding stable and abandoned…

Ginger was rescued from the animal shelter. We don't know why she was brought there, but we are sure glad we found her. She loved talking and had a…

Caesar was a movie horse but had none of the wealth, fame, or glory that humans enjoy. He was asked to do very strenuous work and was not allowed to…

Honey Bear was found running down the street, malnourished, underweight, wounded, and clearly escaping something horrid. He was picked up by animal…

Rover was minutes away from being put down at the shelter when we found her. Shaking at the back of the cage, she would not let anyone get close to…

Betsy was a happy backyard chicken, along with her sisters, when neighborhood dogs broke in to the yard and started killing off the birds. The family…

There was a woman who wanted a female chicken as a pet for her apartment. She ordered one to be delivered to her from an egg company. When she went…

Carrie was one of twenty chicks rescued from a poultry farm and brought to The Gentle Barn Tennessee to live a better life and spread awareness of the…

Chili was rescued from a very bad East Los Angeles neighborhood where every house had a pure bread Pit Bull tied to a tree, and by the looks of the…

We got Zoe 14 years ago when she and her twin brother were three years old. They were from the premarin industry and had gone through so much…

Divine was rescued from a backyard butcher where she was fed nothing but rotten tomatoes. Starving to death and terrified she now has a long way to…

Bodhi was on a truck with many other pigs headed for slaughter when he had the courage to jump off and save his own life. He thankfully was not harmed…

Wild turkeys live about 20 years and are able to run, fly and mate . They live in large family groups and are very social and smart. The meat industry…

Sun Dance came to us at a day old and grew up right in our barnyard. We don't know why he was brought to the animal shelter right after being born,…

Sidney was rescued from a woman who loved him very much but didn't know how to care for him and he eventually went blind from malnutrition. It look…

Valentina was a Japanese Silky chicken, rescued from the animal shelter just before she was going to be put down. She was way too cute and innocent…

Valentine was actually born at The Gentle Barn a few weeks after we rescued her mom, Tia from an extreme cruelty case. Unlike her mom, Valentine only…

Willy the rottie was rescued from a hoarder. He lived in a cage in a place with 200 other dogs, also in cages. He only knew cold, fear, hunger, and…

Josh was rescued with his late mom, Noni, from an abusive petting zoo. He was a youngster and terrified of humans. She was crippled by overgrown toenails…

A family raised Cybil until she was about a year old, and then moved out of state and abandoned her on the front lawn. She waited for months for them…

There are three reasons why animals come to The Gentle Barn: So they can heal and live the life all animals deserve, so they can die in the arms of…

Rama was rescued from Thanksgiving. She lived in so much fear for the first several years believing we would harm her. But slowly she realized she was…

Drew was being sold at a live meat market in China town where people come in, pick which animal they want, and they are "processed" in the back and…

Sunrise was one of 45 chicks rescued from a crowded, filthy pet store. They all came to The Gentle Barn to live the good life, and one by one pass away…

We were about to start off a brand new week when our beautiful Freddy decided it was time to leave. Freddy Mercury was the last lady to leave of the…

Eric was raised to fight. When they noticed that he is a lover not a fighter they were going to eat him. Able to intervene, we brought him home to charm…

Forgiveness was born at a dairy factory farm and taken away from his mom at a day old. He was then put in a veal crate where he could not move…

We rescued Susie many years ago when we discovered her and her 29 sisters at a pet store. They were all crammed together in a filthy cage and when customers…

The first time we saw Blue she was in a back stall with her head to the wall at a rescue facility in Ojai, Ca. We were giving carrots and apples to…

Zen was brought to us by a Buddhist temple. They loved him very much, but the neighbors did not. They asked us to take him and care for him, allowing…

We lost our sweet precious ginger this week. Ginger was already old when we rescued her 4 years ago from extreme cruelty. She was extremely sick when…

Along with the wonderful work that we do here at The Gentle Barn, and the joy that comes with restoring new lives and new hope in the animals, comes…

A Tennessee Love Story

Rosy was originally thought to be a female, but when he was a little older and started…

Joy was rescued from a backyard butcher. She was emaciated, very sick and had we come just a day later she would have not survived. She is slowly gaining…

Chloe was rescued just before Thanksgiving. Her toes and beak had been cut off, she was black with filth, and had lost all trust in humans.

To…

Buttercup was rescued from extreme cruelty where she had no food, water, or shelter. She was used as a dairy cow so every year she was impregnated,…

Andrew was one of twenty chicks rescued from a factory farm where he would have been slaughtered at 7 weeks old, along with 120,000 chickens. He was…

Langhorn was one of twenty chicks rescued from a poultry farm and brought to The Gentle Barn Tennessee to live a better life and spread awareness of…

Nalla was rescued along with the 30 animals from a backyard butcher with her mom. She was designated for slaughter, and treated with a cruel hand and…

Whisper was rescued from one of the worst abuse cases in the history of The Gentle Barn. She had cigar burns on her behind, holes on either side of…

Pixie was at the animal shelter, we don't really know how she got there. She was only 10 weeks old, thin and infested with mites. We got rid of her…

Gertrude was our most cuddled chicken, when all of the other hens were busy running around looking for bugs or scratching in the hay, Gertie preferred…

Sunshine was rescued from a pet store where she and her 29 siblings were crammed in a dark, dirty, crowded cage. After many complaints they released…

Yoda the emu was rescued from a hoarder where he was left for dead along with 400 other animals. He was terrified coming in to our place but very quickly…

Mars was rescued from the animal shelter in his last hours before being put to sleep. He was at least eighteen years old, and because of that he was…

Phoenix was one of five chickens rescued from a slaughterhouse. They were left alive and the customers could pick out the one they wanted and then they…

A Solute to a Gentleman

When I first met Dylan he was so handsome that I caught my breath and stared.…

Reina was rescued along with sixty other animals from a horrendous cruelty case. She had seen her friends and family members slaughtered right in front…

For the first part of Dunkin's life he lived with a human family and thought that he was one of their dogs. He rolled over for tummy rubs, chased cars…

Bubble Gum was rescued from a backyard butcher where she was severely abused and neglected. When we brought her home she was riddled with parasites,…

Sarah was wild in our neighborhood, we were never able to find out where she came from. She emerged one day with 15 babies and we knew that if she remained…

Sarah was one of twenty chicks rescued from a factory farm where she would have been slaughtered at 7 weeks old. She was brought to The Gentle Barn…

Chance was rescued from a backyard butcher along with many other animals. She had no food, water, or shelter there, and saw many unspeakable things…

Mr Rojas was rescued from slaughter at a cruelty case where we rescued his mom. The previous owner hid him to sell for Christmas dinner. Because of…

We first found Biscuit in a pumpkin patch exactly 10 years ago. We took our kids there to pick out pumpkins, having no idea there would be any animals…

During the first six months of the pandemic, slaughterhouses were shutting down, ranchers were panicking, and animals were being sent to slaughter pregnant…

Willy Wonka was a professional jumping horse, competing around the world and winning millions for his humans. Worn down, he eventually collapsed in…

Jewel was a wild peacock wondering the neighborhood. He slept in our neighbors trees at night and soon started showing up at our place for meals. After…

Charlie and Lacey left us this week after having the best year of their life. When we rescued them last year, they were 14 years old and were being…

Rooty had a good home and a human mom who loved her very much. Her happy life ended when her mom died suddenly. Because Rooty was older, no one wanted…

Karma was rescued from a cruelty case many years ago. She cried and cried until we finally realized she was crying for a baby left behind. We…

I am so sorry to say that our dear sweet Bella has passed away. We never know exactly how old chickens are when we rescue them and with the genetic…

Buddha is our therapy cow here at The Gentle Barn. When disabled kids come to visit, they gather around Buddha in their wheel chairs and hug her and…

January 14th, 2018 was a very cold day. Our founders Ellie and Jay made a special trip to Missouri to help us rescue a sheep and a handful of…

Duchess was left in the dessert with her younger brother King with no food, water, or shelter. Desperate, the two found their way closer and closer…

Dudley was taken away from his mom at a very young age and was being raised for slaughter. He accidentally got baling twine wrapped around is ankle…

Scarlet was one of four turkeys that we rescued from Thanksgiving. They were emaciated, filthy, and terrified. Rescuing them allowed us to discover…

Milo was given to a family for a Christmas present, but they didn’t want him. So they put him in the backyard where he lived alone for 9 years. Finally…

Jellie was rescued with her twin sister, Jasmine from an abusive petting zoo at only four weeks old. Taken away from their moms way too young, we bottle…

Sparrow and his sisters were being sold at a pet store as babies. They were kept in a small, dark box in cruel conditions. People complained and they…

Mario was going to be euthanized in the animal shelter and we brought him home to The Gentle Barn to be part of our family instead. He quickly became…

Bonsai Warrior was an enormous, mighty, strong, brave, courageous, opinionated, and feisty giant who ironically came to us in a miniature horse’s body.…

Horton was rescued from slaughter when he was only three months old. He came to us covered in ticks, underweight, and terrified of humans. With time…

Annie was rescued from euthanasia at a high kill shelter after being hit by a car and breaking her pelvis. We brought her home and with good vet care,…

Flash came from a home where her and her 6 sisters were loved and cared for as family members. When the family moved they quickly found out their home…

Wild turkeys live about 20 years and are able to run, fly and mate . They live in large family groups and are very social and smart. The meat industry…

Sir Lancelot was originally a racehorse, and when they were done with him he was sold at auction to people who treated him like a car and not…

Amber and her 28 sisters were rescued from a pet store where they were kept in very cramped, dirty conditions. After the customers complained they…

Dolly was kept outside with little shelter before she came to us, she developed cancer in her eyes from the sun as well as her back. The cancer on her…

Monty was rescued from Thanksgiving. Instead of ending up on someone's plate, he came to The Gentle Barn where he charms hundreds of people and teaches…

Betty Morgan was purchased from a turkey farm by an eight year old girl. When her parents wouldn’t allow her to keep Betty as a pet she begged one of…

Ari was born to a mom imprisoned by the dairy industry. He was taken away from his mom at birth and put into a veal crate where he could not move, had…

Storm was raised by a lovely family who adored him. Because of this he grew up kind and affectionate. Because of the economy the family could no longer…

Jasmine and her sister Jellie were taken away from their mom at only 4 weeks and put up for sale. Knowing that they were not ready to eat solid food…

Spencer was rescued along with his sister from the animal shelter on his last day before he was killed. He was the quintessential dog: loyal, intelligent,…

Marsha was rescued from Thanksgiving and then was attacked by a dog. After healing at the hospital, Marsha was brought to The Gentle Barn to charm people…

Perfect came to us in September of 2017 right before we opened to the public for the very first time here in Missouri. Her story is similar to that…

Sasha was ridden by an extremely impatient person who did not give her enough time to figure out what she was being asked to do. Every time she made…

Patrick was a trail horse for 30 years, carrying children on his back and taking great care of them. When his back wore down and he could no longer…

Maddie was rescued from the streets of Los Angeles where she had lived for years as a feral dog. She ate our of the garbage to survive and staid clear…

Charlie and Lacey left us this week after having the best year of their life. When we rescued them last year, they were 14 years old and were being…

We rescued Linus 8 years ago from a terrible cruelty case. He suffered so much! We brought him home and gave him daily tummy rubs, treats, and love…

McKenna Rockett was rescued from Thanksgiving. Filthy and terrified, it took months to get her healthy and happy. McKenna Rockett soon became the love…

Peyton Manning was rescued along with two other turkeys from Thanksgiving in Tennessee, in 2015. After learning he was safe and could accept…

Alex was saved from a market where people come to pick out animals to be butchered and bought. Living in a filthy cage, watching the animals around…

Ora and her sisters were rescued right down the road from us in Missouri. One of our neighbors called us after 11 turkeys showed up at their…

SusieQ was raised in a factory farm where she was poked by electric prods, had her ears shredded, was torn away from her mom, and then sent to Farmer…

Poppy came from a home where her and her 6 sisters were loved and cared for as family members. When the family moved they quickly found out their home…

Darshana was rescued from Thanksgiving with her two sisters. She was dirty, scared and angry when she came here. But after a short while here, she forgave…

Braveheart was brought to us at 3 months old by someone who found him running away from a goat farm. He was raised to be eaten and had no idea that…

"Mamma Dear" was rescued from the racetrack, where her frail body was severely damaged. She was several hundred pounds underweight and her muscles were…

Angel was hatched as part of a classroom project. The birth delighted the children, but once the fascination was over and Angel turned into a big hen,…

We first rescued Adeline with her four sisters. They were scared, filthy, and sick. Once healed, staff and volunteers sat with them each day,…

When we rescued Sir Fancy Pants from Thanksgiving in 2011 he was a tiny, scared baby. He soon became comfortable in our barnyard and we watched him…

Zoe's mom was rescued from an abusive petting zoo when she was still a baby herself. We didn't know she was pregnant, but within a few months, she gave…

Eliza was rescued from the animal shelter. Chickens typically live between 7 and 10 years, but Eliza lived with us until eleven years old! She absolutely…

Emily was rescued from an extreme cruelty case and saw the worst of humanity. When animal control brought her to us, along with sixty other animals,…

Kaylee was hit by a car in a bad neighborhood. We scraped her off the street and took her to the hospital. Little did we know that healing her body…

Victory as born inside a slaughterhouse and saved her mother’s life. In a rare act of compassion, the slaughterhouse owner allowed us to have them both…

Marilyn Monroe was kept as a trophy pet for a wealthy man. When the stock market crashed he lost his farm and with it, all his animals. The other animals…

Rascalina was someone’s treasured riding horse and they had many adventures together. Once she was older however and could no longer carry anyone she…

Katie was a pony who spent her life giving rides to small children. She wore a saddle that did not fit, so her back was sore. They did not trim her…

Sid and his sister Sam were backyard dogs for 15 years. When they were old and arthritic and incontinent, they were sent to the pound to be put down.…

Jasmine was rescued from someone who was planning to eat her and her family. But when she had deformed toes they brought her to us to help. After a…

Mavis was one of 102,000 chicks born in an incubator and raised in a poultry farm. Genetically engineered to be full grown at 7 weeks old and destined…

Daisy was one of the original chickens to be rescued by The Gentle Barn. She came along with 30 other chickens who were living in a homeless woman's…

Lyra came to us from an animal shelter just before she was supposed to be put down. Someone had impulsively brought Lyra home and got rid of her when…

Lucy was rescued with two other cows from a very wealthy man who had many exotic animals as pets. When he sadly lost everything in the stock market…

Krishna was rescued from Thanksgiving along with her sister, Rama. They were not given food, water, or shelter where they came from and were emaciated…

Annie was rescued off the back of a pickup truck on Fathers Day. The back of the truck had a bar-b-q and all the makings of a Fathers Day BBQ feast.…

Spirit is the 6th cow of the St Louis Six. He escaped the slaughter house with his brothers but because of his injuries during the round up process…

Zena was rescued from an abusive petting zoo where she had been forced to get pregnant every six months for 7 years. While she was nursing one baby,…

Pebbles survived severe neglect at the hands of a backyard butcher, escaped slaughter, healed from pneumonia, recovered from a double mastectomy,…

Sophie was rescued from an abusive petting zoo with her son, Billy. Her toe nails were a foot long causing deformities in her joints. She is a loving…

Scout was found standing in the rain on a vacant lot with no food, water, or shelter. His coat was bleached from the sun, his hooves were way too long,…

Tinkerbelle's mom was rescued from an abusive petting zoo. She had a small baby at the time so it did not even occur to us that she might be pregnant.…

Freedom was thrown out because she had a congenital birth defect; she had no eyelids. At The Gentle Barn we believe that everyone should have a chance…

Wild turkeys are smaller and live for about 25 years. Scientists have taken the DNA of a wild turkey and genetically engineered it to create a man made,…

Peggy was the most famous and well loved chicken in the history of The Gentle Barn. She was born with only one usable leg and was almost euthanized…

Billy was rescued from an abusive petting zoo with his mom, Sophie. He had pneumonia, and sounded like Darth Vader when he breathed. After healing his…