We just celebrated The Gentle Barn’s eighteenth anniversary. Eighteen is not usually a milestone year, compared to fifteen or twenty, which is much more celebrated. To me, though, this eighteenth year has extra special significance: In Jewish numerology, eighteen stands for life. Jewish philanthropists who know this usually donate in increments of eighteen. At The Gentle Barn we are saving lives, improving lives, and celebrating lives every day. While we celebrate our eighteenth anniversary, we are opening the third Gentle Barn for six cows who ran for their lives.

These St. Louis Six lived in a world where they were not seen as individuals, or as having souls or personalities, or as having any rights at all. Chico and his brothers changed that a little when they escaped the slaughterhouse, pushing past three impossible fences, evading the authorities for hours, pulling on the hearts of the community, and eventually ending up being saved. In this eighteenth year, our work will be to show the world the intelligence and affection of these boys so that we may help more people honor all life more deeply.

Chico and his brothers understood what was about to befall them, that’s clear. They chose life! They will also understand that we have kind intentions and they can eventually trust us. In Tennessee, Dudley showed the world how playful and full of life cows truly are when given a chance. Now in Missouri, Chico and the boys will show the world that all animals want to live when given a choice.

Your generosity and our hard work has paid off, because the cows are coming home in approximately a week! We are extremely grateful! Thank you so much for supporting us, helping us name them, and helping us purchase the supplies we needed to fence and prepare the property. Most of all, thank you for your giant hearts and your kindness offered to animals who suffer so much and deserve gentleness just like you and me. This is going to be a wonderful eighteenth year full of rescues, homecomings, and healings for humans, animals, and all life!