From nearly ending up on a plate as food to now offering comfort at The Gentle Barn, Missouri, these cows have surely come a long way!
Most of us don’t think about the source and origin of our food, especially meat. These are living, breathing animals, bred with the sole purpose of ending up on someone’s plate.
About seven years ago, six brave cows were queued up, prepared, and ready at a St. Louis, Missouri slaughterhouse, awaiting their fate. At this point, a brave cow named Chico, clearly the leader of the group, dashed through three rows of fences and he helped five other cows flee as well.
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After this, the animals landed on a busy road, and commuters were shocked to see the cattle on the streets. Eventually, they were rounded up and sent back to the abattoir, but by then, the news of their brave escape had spread, and the story was covered on the evening news.
The local community was amazed and decided to intervene and save their lives. A few individuals came together and created a GoFundMe page to pay Chico and his friends’ owner, while desperately searching for a shelter for them.
No shelter was ready to accommodate the animals until Ellie Laks and her husband, Jay Weiner, received a call. They are the founders of the Gentle Barn sanctuary in Santa Clarita, California which has been rescuing animals and running successfully for the last 24 years.
The couple then decided to open another Gentle Barn sanctuary in Missouri to ensure the cows remained safe and out of the slaughterhouse. They first shifted the cows to a temporary shelter, after which they were placed in their forever home at the Gentle Barn, Missouri.
Along with cows, they house several other farm animals like donkeys, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, turkeys, and ducks. Laks says that the six cows who fled from the slaughterhouse have been nicknamed the “St. Louis Six,” despite the unfortunate demise of one of them after he suffered injuries.
She adds that it took months of hard work for the animals to start trusting people again, allowing themselves to be petted, or fed treats. Over the years, many visitors have found solace and peace in the company and hugs of the cows.
The cows love to keep their heads in the laps of visitors who visit the sanctuary and they behave like little cats and dogs. The Gentle Barn is also used for hosting birthday parties, field trips, and other special events. Laks shares countless stories of people who have healed and found hope due to the gentle therapists.
