Update, 8/14/25:

This petition has over 1,000 signatures from people demanding accountability, transparency, and veterinary oversight from The Gentle Barn, yet there has been no response from leadership. We love The Gentle Barn animals and the people who dedicate their time to the mission. We are speaking out not to harm the organization, but to insist that leadership make needed changes to move into alignment with their mission—so donors, volunteers, and staff feel confident supporting the organization's mission that we all love. We want The Gentle Barn to be the best it can be. We have asked kindly and respectfully behind closed doors without success. On social media, commenters with genuine questions and concerns are being deleted or blocked. So now we come together as a community to demand better.

Specifically, we ask for:

• Animals' medical care decisions be overseen by veterinarians, who are paid on time for their work. Most importantly, that euthanasia decisions be based primarily on veterinary input rather than the founder's “animal communication” techniques.
• Routine vaccines for animals to prevent illness and death and to ensure the safety of those interacting with the animals. The Gentle Barn should rely on science and veterinary oversight, not on disproven pseudoscientific claims when making decisions about the animals' care.
• Transparency when the organization unintentionally causes injury or death to animals, and internal procedures to review such instances, willingness to learn from errors, and efforts to identify ways to prevent harm in the future.
• Standardized, enforced, and scientifically-based animal care protocols to ensure consistent care, such as regular hoof trims, grooming, improvements, enrichment, etc.
• Reduced travel, entertainment, and executive overhead expenses, shifting funds to prioritize direct animal care-related costs, including medical care, housing, and enrichment. The organization should prioritize spending a great proportion of its donated funds on the animals to better align with how donors hope to see their money spent as that is the board members' fiduciary responsibility.
• A transparent, growth-oriented, accountable, and psychologically safe organizational culture that embraces feedback from volunteers, staff, and the public to better serve its people and animals. If the organization's founders are unable or unwilling to foster a healthier culture, the board should seek to replace them with individuals who embrace a servant-leader mindset, feedback, and personal growth. The Gentle Barn cannot keep its promise to the animals or uphold its commitment to donors if changes are not swiftly made to its culture.

Do better—for the animals, people, and the planet.

Original text, 3/4/25:

The Gentle Barn, a nonprofit whose mission is to rescue and rehabilitate farm animals, abruptly closed its Dittmer, MO sanctuary location, requiring 30 animals to move across the country to The Gentle Barn's California and Tennessee facilities. Five of those animals have passed away following the move. The sanctuary staff, volunteers, and community were blindsided by the decision, with many finding out at the same time as the general public.

The organization's operations lack transparency and accountability. One major concern is the organization's questionable use of donor funds. For example, The Gentle Barn's 2023 990 form reports that founders and spouses Jay Weiner and Ellie Laks made salaries of $149,326 and $146,319 respectively.* Additionally, Ellie Laks owns The Gentle Barn's primary facilities in California and was paid $72,800 in rent by the organization for use of the property in 2023.* The organization also discloses that donor funds may be used to pay for first-class flights for the founders.* 

More concerning still are the animal care standards that include pseudoscientific wellness practices, like "animal communication" performed by founder Ellie Laks. Several former staff members have expressed concern that veterinary recommendations are in some cases de-prioritized in favor of such practices.

It's time we demand positive change from The Gentle Barn.

We call for the board of the organization to formally evaluate all internal policies around finances, animal care standards, and organizational leadership. Our highest concern is the implementation of reasonable veterinary oversight to ensure that the animals' veterinary, environmental, and safety needs are adequately met. This will not only improve the animals' quality of life, but also restore the trust of donors and volunteers. We expect a formal and public response from the board regarding these issues, including a strategic plan to: utilize donations in greater alignment with the organization's mission, improve animal care standards by prioritizing veterinary science, and create internal accountability structures for leadership. The board has a responsibility to act in the best interest of the organization and the animals under its care.

 We need your signature to ensure our voices are heard. Sign this petition to demand better from The Gentle Barn.

*The Gentle Barn 990 2023 pages 7, 39, and 41.