Meet Ellie Laks. She’s the founder of The Gentle Barn and a celebrated animal behaviorist. And she has dedicated her life to rescuing, rehabilitating, and advocating for animals.
Ellie’s journey from a young animal lover to a renowned author, trainer, and holistic healer is nothing short of inspiring. Her latest book, Cow Hug Therapy, has skyrocketed to the #1 bestseller spot on Amazon in both “Pet Loss” and “Animal Rights” categories, and is a testament to the growing recognition of animal therapy in promoting human wellbeing. With endorsements from celebrities like Christina Applegate, Ellie’s influence in the field of animal communication and welfare continues to grow.
From strengthening bonds to recognizing and resolving behavioral and health issues more empathetically, Ellie shares her expertise with us on how to bring out your pet’s voice and understand the surprising similarities between humans and animals.
Check out our full interview with Ellie Laks below.
What inspired you to found The Gentle Barn, and how has your mission evolved since its inception?
Ellie Laks: The Gentle Barn has been my dream since I was seven years old. I always loved animals and noticed that the people around me did not. I would tell anyone who would listen, “You’ll see, when I grow up I’ll have a big place full of animals, and I’ll show the world how beautiful they are!”
It was the only thing I could think about. But I didn’t know how to start The Gentle Barn, so for years, I procrastinated until I drove by an abusive petting zoo. I found so much abuse and neglect there that I ended up bringing home sick and injured animals from there, healing them, and partnering with them to help hurting humans, and ultimately started my dream. A few years later, I met Jay as a volunteer, and a year later, we fell in love and joined forces to expand our mission and grow the organization.
The Gentle Barn started in my half-acre backyard and is now a twenty-five-year-old organization located in Los Angeles, California, St. Louis, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee. It has rescued thousands of animals and hosted one million guests!
Can you share a particularly memorable animal rescue story that has stayed with you over the years?
Ellie Laks: Dudley was a cow that we rescued in Tennessee from a third-generation rancher. The rancher’s livelihood consisted of buying young cows, bringing them to the farm, and then selling them back to the auction house later for a profit.
Because of a tragic accident, Dudley couldn’t walk because he lost a foot. The rancher had empathy for Dudley and wanted to help. His friend called 200 places to take the cow, but nobody would help him. Then she called us at The Gentle Barn, and we said, “Yes!” We rescued Dudley, brought him to U T Knoxville, got him the surgery and amputation he needed, had a prosthetic foot made, and when he was acclimated and discharged, opened The Gentle Barn Tennessee for him and many others.
Dudley inspired amputees, kids at children’s hospitals, people in wheelchairs, and teens in foster agencies. He made an enormous impact on everyone who knew him or followed his journey.
Your new book, Cow Hug Therapy, is out now. Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired you to write it and what readers can expect from it?
Ellie Laks: After living in a barnyard for twenty-five years, I had so many stories of the remarkable experiences I have witnessed, and I just had to share the wisdom, healing, and lessons that these cows and other animals have for us.
I want readers to connect with our farm animals like never before and know who they truly are when loved and safe. Cow Hug Therapy is also my own story of growing up, finding my voice, learning to practice self-care, and understanding what it means to be a matriarch. I have learned all of these things from our rescued animals, and I want to share their wisdom.
Can you explain the concept of “cow hug therapy” and its potential benefits for both humans and animals?
Ellie Laks: Cow Hug Therapy (CHT) involves our guests putting their faces on the cows, closing their eyes, listening to the cows’ heartbeats and slowing down their own, and observing the cows’ breathing and matching theirs to the cows. The experience clears the mind of thought, grounds and centers the person, and cracks them wide open so they feel humble, vulnerable, and ready to heal.
Unlike holding smaller animals or riding horses, with CHT we are not in charge. The cows outweigh us by thousands of pounds but want to be with us, hold still for us, and offer us their nurturing. Cow hugging is like meditation but with a giant, fuzzy, soft, adorable animal who is with us through the process of self-discovery.
Cow hugging mimics the feeling of being an infant on our caregivers’ chest, feeling the rise and fall of their breath, and hearing their heartbeat. It allows us to feel cared for, small, vulnerable, protected, wanted, and needed.
How did your relationship with Christina Applegate develop, and how has her support impacted The Gentle Barn?
Ellie Laks: Christina Applegate has visited The Gentle Barn and our animals for many years. She came to bring her then very young daughter to bond with animals. Her daughter has grown up in our barnyard ever since, and Christina comes as often as she can to get healing and comfort from our animals through her own healing journey.
As an animal behaviorist and communicator, what do you believe are the most common misconceptions people have about animal communication?
Ellie Laks: Most people think that only a few can speak to animals. I believe that we can all do it. We all operate by intuition, we just need to remember and return to it. Also, most people think that they cannot speak to their own pets unless someone speaks for them. It definitely helps to have an animal communicator help with more complicated conversations, but I believe that animals understand what we say to them.
I highly encourage people to tell their pets that they are leaving and when they will be back, ask for the behavior or job that they need by simply asking the animal, and always tell their animal that they love them!
What are some simple techniques that pet owners can use to improve communication with their animals?
Ellie Laks: To strengthen our intuition and deepen our communication with our pets, I highly recommend creating a daily meditation practice to become comfortable in quiet stillness, adopting a vegan diet to only accept the energy of gentleness, and practicing self-care so we take ourselves and our still small voice seriously. Taking classes at Joanranquet.com helps to validate our connection, too.
How do you balance the emotional aspects of animal rescue with the practical challenges of running a non-profit organization?
Ellie Laks: I am an empath and wear my heart on my sleeve. I am emotionally invested in every single animal who walks through our doors. We deal with a lot of loss, stress, change, and challenges. Being a national organization with three locations, two hundred animals at any given time, close to seventy staff, and hundreds of volunteers, there are a lot of business decisions we must make everyday. It is always a balance of emotions and smarts. Practicing self-care, resting, eating healthy, and meditating all help balance things and get it all done.
What role do you think animal sanctuaries like The Gentle Barn play in promoting animal rights and welfare?
Ellie Laks: I believe the world changes through education. The majority of people have no idea who farm animals are or what they go through. Getting in front of as many people in the world as possible and showing them how wonderful these animals are, sharing their stories with them, and opening their hearts and minds to the truth is the most effective way to promote animal rights and welfare and inspire people how they can be part of the solution.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in animal rescue or behavior?
Ellie Laks: There are a million ways that a sanctuary can look and perform. First, get clear on your own personal dream and vision. Know what your career in animal care or rescue looks like, who you will impact, and exactly how you will do it. Then never take “no” for an answer, believe in yourself and your vision, and allow the “how” to find you!
Jay and I teach a course to help people start their own sanctuaries. You can find out more on my website, at ellielaks.com.
Looking to the future, what are your hopes for The Gentle Barn and for human-animal relationships in general?
Ellie Laks: I want to do everything that we can to show the world how beautiful animals are, from writing more books, hosting a podcast, creating a children’s television show, and making a movie about our story.
I will keep showing the world how wonderful animals are, inspiring people to be part of the solution, and telling our animals’ stories until we all realize that we are all the same and that animals can live peacefully, safely, and loved beside us.
Lastly, is there a specific mantra, quote, or affirmation that you hold close to your heart?
Ellie Laks: “Though we may look different, we are all the same! And we have not lived life until we have hugged cows and cuddled turkeys.”
Learn more about Ellie Laks at EllieLaks.com
Published in Featured Articles, Featured Women
Emily Sprinkle, also known as Emma Loggins, is a designer, marketer, blogger, and speaker. She is the Editor-In-Chief for Women's Business Daily where she pulls from her experience as the CEO and Director of Strategy for Excite Creative Studios, where she specializes in web development, UI/UX design, social media marketing, and overall strategy for her clients.
Emily has also written for CNN, Autotrader, The Guardian, and is also the Editor-In-Chief for the geek lifestyle site FanBolt.com
