Animals have long held a sacred place in human hearts, not only as companions, but as emotional messengers, healers and quiet witnesses to our most tender moments. Whether helping us feel the presence of loved ones who have passed or strengthening the bonds with those still by our side, animals have a unique ability to draw us into deeper connection. Their language is not made of words, but of presence, intuition and love.
We are truly blessed to have our animal companions; they enrich our lives every day. At The Gentle Barn, we are forever grateful to have known, loved and cared for so many animals — and to share them with you.
The Healing Power of Animals
The Gentle Barn, our national nonprofit organization founded in 1999, not only provides sanctuary to animals rescued from severe abuse and neglect, but also offers programs where individuals engage with animals to foster empathy, trust and healing.
Our signature programs, including Cow Hug Therapy®, focus on creating powerful, therapeutic interactions between humans and animals. Visitors and participants — often underserved youth, individuals with special needs, trauma survivors or those in recovery — are invited into a space of safety and non-judgment. There, they engage with our rescued animals through hands-on experiences like grooming, feeding, walking and simply being present.
Through these programs, The Gentle Barn doesn’t just promote healing — it models it. Every animal's story becomes a teaching moment about resilience, forgiveness and love.
Love Finds a Way
John Lewis came to us orphaned, sick, sad and broken. My husband and co-founder, Jay Weiner, and I stopped at nothing to save him. Thank goodness bringing him into the house and making him a part of our family paid off, because he made it. We could not save his mom, but we named her in a naming auction. Out of the hundreds of names we could have pulled from the bowl, the name that was selected was “Love.”
Everything John Lewis does — every heart he opens, every life he touches, every person he inspires, every cookie he eats, every game that he plays, every friend that he meets — he is doing it all for Love. His mom is always here with us, watching over Lewis, experiencing the kindness he is receiving that she never did, and living this life with him in spirit. I hope that she knows that when we love him, we are loving her at the same time.
Einstein never knew love at all, only the cold glare of people who were raising him for food and could not see his soul. Dreaming of a better life, Einstein escaped and lived feral for three years alone. He had no shelter from the rain, was covered in ticks and was always on guard, ready to escape should anyone approach.
By the time we found out about him, it was the dead of winter, and he was cold and exhausted. We set up a feeding station with food and warm water at the same time each day. Little by little, we enclosed it with a fence that helped us finally catch him. For months, I talked to him and described the life he would have at The Gentle Barn. I told him of the friends he would make, the family he would have, the warm barn, the fresh food, the clean water and the gentle hands.
I am grateful to have been able to fulfill those promises, keep my word to him and show him that love does exist — so he could experience it every day for the rest of his life before his passing.
The only thing Worthy did have was love. She had no food, water, shelter or human kindness. Her leg was grossly deformed, and she was hobbling around in pain. There was no one to help her. But she did have her mom and brother to protect her and keep her company. When we rescued Worthy and brought her to the hospital to have surgery to fix her leg, it was the love of her mom that kept her strong enough to endure the lengthy surgery and recovery. Worthy now has everything all animals deserve: good food, fresh water and kind humans. She also has the love of her family always with her as she gallops around our pastures and through our woods, feeling safe, happy and full of life.
Love in Practice
Love is what we all have in common. Whether we’ve had it all along, inherited it from our animal companions or discovered it at The Gentle Barn, love connects us all and lifts us up. Love heals our hearts, propels us forward and gives us hope for the future. And at The Gentle Barn, love is not just something we say — it is a verb that we practice each and every day.
We extend our love to you, too, as part of our gentle family, and want to thank you so very much for loving us, supporting us and enabling us to save, rehabilitate and provide sanctuary to all our animals. Thank you for loving us, so we can love them, and they can love you. GentleBarn.org
To continue your support, learn more about The Gentle Barn's current fundraiser to raise $300,000 for critical care and permanent solutions for its Tennessee barn. They partner with The Union Station every Monday in August, during Conductor's Hour (6:30–7:30 p.m.) at The Bar Car. During that time, the hotel will donate 100% of the proceeds from a featured, rotating cocktail to The Gentle Barn.