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Her dream to help animals that were lost or injured began when she was a child, but it wasn’t until 1999, when Ellie Laks’ dream became a reality. With a love for animals and children, Ellie created The Gentle Barn, a place where every animal and child can feel safe and be seen for the perfect beings they are. Jay Weiner volunteered at The Gentle Barn in 2002 and later joined forces with Ellie to further pursue their mission.
Ellie recently published her book, My Gentle Barn, which captures her experiences with the animals. “The book is a living legacy to those animals,” states Ellie. “And it is so important for me for those stories to be told, not just to inspire people but to also send a message regarding the issues surrounding animals.”
Q: What kind of services does The Gentle Barn provide, and how have your programs helped children and families?
A: Once the animals are happy and healthy they help us heal children with the same stories of abuse and neglect. We have a 10-month program where we host kids from the inner city who are at-risk or have special needs. Through the interactions with the animals, the kids learn kindness, compassion and confidence and find themselves in the barnyard.
Q: Can you describe one of your most memorable rescues at The Gentle Barn?
A: One of my most memorable rescues at The Gentle Barn was a dog named Willy. He lived outside in a cage with improper food, water or shelter for years. Willy was so angry when we saved him that he put his head in a corner of our garage and stayed there for weeks. If he heard our voices or saw us coming close, he would growl and bare his teeth. His face seemed so defensive, shut down and hopeless. Any other rescue out there would have put Willy down saying he was just too far gone. It took four long years for Willy to heal, learn to love again and to have joy back in his heart, but he was finally a “normal” dog, sleeping in bed with us, going for walks and rides in the car, and wagging his whole body when he had a visitor because he loved people so much! At The Gentle Barn, we never give up on animals and, even when it takes a while, we are always rewarded with a happily ever after.
 Q: What do you love the most about what you do?
A: I love seeing the transformations in the kids and the animals that come here. The children and the animals are all so despondent when they first arrive and they feel like no one understands them, life will never get better, and pain is the only thing they will ever know. They get to be heard and seen and respected. With time and patience, they start letting go and healing. To see the light come back in their eyes, the smiles shine again on their faces; it’s what I live for. I get to see miracles every day.
Ellie Laks’ book My Gentle Barn is now available in stores. You can come visit The Gentle Barn every Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.gentlebarn.org or call 661-252-2440. For the complete interview visit our website at www.scvelitemagazine.com.
photos courtesy The Gentle Barn |
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