Knoxville, TN — A non-profit group that helps animals and people heal from abuse together is making a move from Knox County to Middle Tennessee.
The Gentle Barn was founded in California in 1999. It arrived in Knoxville in 2015 while helping a cow from Nashville that lost a foot receive a prosthesis at the University of Tennessee.
The vet school was able to fit Dudley the steer with a new prosthetic foot. The Gentle Barn decided East Tennessee was a good fit for an expansion. The 12 acres of rented property in West Knox County allowed Dudley and a wide array of other animals to receive help while the non-profit searched for a permanent location.
"We get to save the lives of hundreds of animals. But the thing that makes the Gentle Barn unique is we also focus on healing humans," said manager Kiera Harveston. "These animals and people facing challenges can help each other because they have similar stories."
A ruptured stomach killed Dudley in 2017. The Gentle Barn continued with its mission, but was unable to find a suitable location for a permanent site in East Tennessee. Now it has found a forever home on a 40-acre plot in Murfreesboro.
"It’s bittersweet when we think of Knoxville, because we built such a lovely community there," said founder Ellie Laks.
"Knoxville welcomed us with open arms whenever we didn't have a home," said Harveston. "We're hoping Knoxville will continue to support us and continue to visit us with it being just a couple of hours away. The new property will give our current animals so much more room and we'll be able to rescue more animals."
The new property will also allow the Gentle Barn to memorialize the beloved cow that put them on the map in Tennessee.
"Dudley's spirit is still here. You can definitely feel it. We want to be able to honor him and lay his ashes to rest. We can't do that here [in Knox County] because we don't own the land. At the new location, we'll be able to lay his ashes to rest, plant a tree for Dudley, paint a mural in his honor, and place a lovely plaque for him," said Harveston.
The Gentle Barn is raising money online for its new site. It plans to have fences and barns installed by the end of July to transfer the animals.
The final day for the West Knox County site will be July 22. A grand opening in Murfreesboro is scheduled for August 26. The date is significant because it marks the 19th anniversary of the non-profit's creation in 1999.