A Sanctuary Inspiring Kindness and Compassion towards Animals, Our Planet, and Each Other
A Sanctuary Inspiring Kindness and Compassion towards Animals, Our Planet, and Each Other

New Love at The Gentle Barn

Thor & Hiroka

New Love at The Gentle Barn

By Ellie Laks
Founder, The Gentle Barn

Animals fall in love just as deeply as we do, and we have many…

A Resolution That Matters

Maybelle & Friends

I love New Years, not for the parties, the champagne, or the celebrations, but for the fresh start. A new year is a chance to reflect on the past, keep what works, and set new intentions…

Larger Than Life

Some of our animals have gone through so much trauma before coming to The Gentle Barn that there is always an underlying quietness about them, always fearing the worst. Some rescued animals are angry and act out. And some go through a transformation here when they finally let go of the past and are healed. But then some are just larger than…

Escape

Lillie the Pig

We rescue animals from all kinds of circumstances, from all kinds of places. Some come from local cruelty cases, slaughterhouses, and shelters, and some come from all over the united states.…

Growing Up Loved

Not all animals come to The Gentle Barn old and broken, some come to us as youngsters and grow up at The Gentle Barn enjoying many years of love, fun, and happiness. Zazu, Eclipse and Penny have been with us since they were babies and don’t remember life before The Gentle Barn. They get to be nurtured by our volunteers, cared for by our staff,…

A Hero Turns 50

I believe heroes are people, or animals, who give us the motivation, support, strength, encouragement, and a role-model to discover our best selves, to make plans to achieve our dreams, to work through struggles and obstacles,…

We Decide

Some animals take a lifetime to heal and recover, and some take one look at The Gentle Barn and realize that they have won the lottery and relish every single new and shiny moment. Our cow Oliver in California, our miniature horse Princess Pebble in Tennessee, and our goat Baron Von Goat in Missouri have been living large and in charge since…

Sole Survivors

Sometimes we rescue pairs or groups of animals that come to The Gentle Barn to live their very best lives together, encouraging each other through their recovery, learning to trust humans at the same time, and offering up companionship as they acclimate to us, our barnyard, and our other animals. Then some animals come to us as lone survivors…

Infinite Possibilities

At The Gentle Barn, we rescue severely abused and neglected animals who have nowhere else to go. Sometimes it takes years for them to set their pasts down and recover from former scars. Then there are animals who with little time and care, blossom and thrive. Like a wilted flower, all they need is a little attention and they radiate happiness…

Ceasar

Caesar the Horse, Caesar with Jay Weiner

Caesar came to us in the summer of 2003. He was not being cared for very well, and it was Jay’s birthday coming up. Rescuing Caesar in Jay’s honor was a perfect…

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Upcoming Events

  • Spaghetti & Bingo

    August 1st 2025 - The Gentle Barn California

    Start the evening by helping us tuck in our cows and horses with some special bedtime treats, then head over for a night of bingo, prizes, and a delicious spaghetti meal! Join us for an evening full of laughter, good food, and friendly competition. Bring your appetite, your game face, and your favorite people. It’s a fun, feel-good night for the whole family!

  • Open Sunday in California

    We are excited to be open to the public again on Sunday, at The Gentle Barn: California.

  • Open Sunday in Tennessee

    We are excited to be open to the public again on Sunday, at The Gentle Barn: Tennessee.