Dudley recovering at The Gentle Barn. Image courtesy of The Gentle Barn. |
KNOXVILLE – Dudley, the young steer who lost his foot due to bailing twine catching his foot which constricted the blood flow and caused his foot to fall off, was saved from certain slaughter by renowned animal sanctuary, The Gentle Barn. After receiving an emergency amputation surgery, followed by months of rigorous physical therapy, Dudley has reached a comfortable familiarity with wearing his prosthetic foot and is ready to head home to the new Gentle Barn location in Knoxville.
As of June 1st, Dudley was moved to his new home less than twenty miles from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville Large Animal Hospital. "This is the best part of Dudley’s recovery,” explains Jay Weiner, Co-Founder of The Gentle Barn. “It has been a long four months, but not only is Dudley’s health moving in a very positive direction, all the effort and courage he has invested in learning how to use his new foot will be felt and appreciated by visitors from the local community and national fan base, especially those with similar attributes. Dudley has been given this gift so that he will live out his life and help people heal. That is what The Gentle Barn is all about.”
Dudley’s impact as a therapy animal begins in Knoxville and extends the entire east coast to mid-west. Since announcing The Gentle Barn’s decision to expand nationally, donors, sponsors, members and fans from all over the country, in addition to local Tennesseans have posted their resounding gratitude and support. The Gentle Barn Tennessee opened with Dudley, three rescued horses, Worthy, Indie and Chris to start, as well as a rooster named “Rick Springfield” that was just recently rescued from the Nashville International Airport. Similar to Dudley, Worthy’s life is an example of incredible hardship, healing and inspiring triumph. Worthy’s story can be found on The Gentle Barn’s YouTube channel. The Gentle Barn Tennessee will be open to the public on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
“We’re so excited about opening this location in such a beautiful area of the country. We are grateful for the genuine support and response that has developed from around the world,” says Ellie Laks, Founder of The Gentle Barn. “The animals that will be rescued at this new Gentle Barn will help create a gentler world for us all. This is the fulfillment of my life’s dream from the start to open a Gentle Barn in every state. I can’t wait to see where we go next.”
This national nonprofit foundation was founded in 1999 as a safe haven and place of recovery for severely abused farm animals. The Gentle Barn rehabilitates animals and connects their stories of survival and healing to the personal experiences of inner city, at-risk and special needs children who have suffered physical, mental or emotional trauma. By interacting with The Gentle Barn’s approximate one hundred and seventy animals and taking a hands-on role in their welfare, those who participate in the programs at The Gentle Barn learn empathy, trust, and forgiveness. The Gentle Barn is run by Founder Ellie Laks and her husband and co-founder Jay Weiner, both of whom were healed and supported by animals as children. The Gentle Barn’s mission is simple: “Teaching People Kindness and Compassion to Animals, Each Other and Our Planet.”
Corporate sponsors who have long supported The Gentle Barn include Sun Chlorella, Toyota, Tofurky, Nature’s Gate, So Delicious, and Dr. Bronner’s. Celebrity supporters and friends of the organization include Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi, Rondi Reed, Mark Wahlberg, Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Hilary Swank, Rose McGowan, Tiffani Thiessen, Sierra McCormick and Laura Vandervoort to name a few.
More information is available at www.gentlebarn.org. Follow The Gentle Barn on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheGentleBarn and Twitter @GentleBarn.
