As an animal communicator, I speak to animals of all kinds around the world who share their feelings, experiences, and needs with me. I speak to many animals who are filled with gratitude for the care and love that they enjoy. I have talked to hundreds of animals who have passed and relay messages and memories to their families full of joy and…

July 4th might be fun for most humans, but it is terrifying for our household pets, wild animals, and war veterans. The trauma of being stuck outside alone can affect our pets’ lives for the rest of their lives, and, in some cases, can cost them their lives. The shelters and animal hospitals are always crowded the day after July 4th with animals…

Almost eleven years ago, Jay and I took our family to South Dakota to build a home for a Lakota nation medicine woman. We experienced and learned many things while there, including participating in a sweat lodge ceremony where the details were new to me, but the songs, smells, and heat on my skin felt somehow familiar to my soul. We paid our…

In the animal world, fathers are rarely in the picture. Male animals are used to breed, but once the female is pregnant, the father is usually removed. Out in the “real” world, animals are not allowed to fall…

It is finally spring and there are baby animals everywhere, filling me with a sense of responsibility to help them if they need help, and leave them alone to live their best lives when they don’t. Sadly, many wild animals get injured…

When I started The Gentle Barn after having it as a dream since I was seven years old, I imagined it to feel like seeing rainbows, playing with unicorns, and listening to harps every day. It does feel like that, and it is also full of painful loss that sometimes brings…

Father’s Day is coming, and it is time to let our dads know how much we appreciate their hard work, strength, and love. When I think of a dad, I think of someone who is the provider, the protector, and the hero. Huge hands holding…

The St. Louis Six - The Gentle Barn Missouri

Animals are gentle and kind and often fall victim to cruelty because they trust and…

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…

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…