Backyard Butcher Rescue

The Gentle Barn Saves Lives

Over the past several years, The Gentle Barn has been rescuing animals from an abusive and filthy Southern California backyard butcher. To date, The Gentle Barn has rescued over 50 animals from this location.

After many months working with Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control and the District Attorney, the backyard butcher has been arrested on 13 felony and misdemeanor charges and all the animals have been removed from his property and are now recovering at The Gentle Barn. The way the animals were being slaughtered for human consumption was ruthless and the public was being sold potentially contaminated meat.

The LA County Animal Care trucks started pouring onto The Gentle Barn property at about 11:30 Tuesday morning, April 3^rd. In those trucks were over 20 goats and sheep (including several babies), 5 adult cows and a badly mistreated horse from the backyard butcher’s location. All the animals are emaciated and terrified, many with open sores, infected lungs, parasites, fevers and hacking coughs. Some of the goats have been blinded from untreated eye infections. The horse has an open, infected wound on her leg that goes to the bone and is clearly causing her incredible pain.

This is a tremendous victory, not only for the animals, but for public safety as well. Backyard butchers are not licensed or controlled and are typically abusive and filthy places, selling meat from animals riddled with diseases, some of which are potentially transferable to people.

“We recognize that people have many choices as to what they eat and where they purchase their food,” said Ellie Laks, Founder of The Gentle Barn.  “We encourage people to consider a plant-based diet. But no matter what you choose, everyone should be selective about the source of their meat and not buy from backyard butchers.”

The rescued animals, now safe at The Gentle Barn, need extensive medical treatment, top quality nutrition, and round the clock loving care to heal. They will now live the rest of their lives with people who will give them the best care possible. To make a donation to help these animals recover, please visit gentlebarn.org.

The Gentle Barn Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded by Ellie Laks in 1999 as a safe haven and place of recovery for abused farm animals and children. The Gentle Barn is open to the public Sundays from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm.