Alternative
Narratives:
How Acts
of Compassion Influenced a Heart-warming Documentary
By Kimberly N. Kottman
There
are all kinds of literary narratives in the world. While these narratives traditionally
are contained within novels and poems, today’s fast-paced society brings new
forms of storytelling. These narratives not only tell stories, but also
communicate the emotions, plights, and hopes of the creators. New forms of narrative
are ignited and inspired by accounts and experiences of compassion every day.
The Gentle Barn, a non-profit animal sanctuary, is an organization that has
inspired one such narrative.
The Gentle Barn rescues abused, and often, abandoned
animals of all kinds. This organization specializes in caring for large animals
such as cows and bulls, horses, and llamas. They also care for various species
of fowl, including turkeys and peacocks, as well as other farm and domesticated
animals. Both locations of The Gentle Barn, in California and Tennessee, have
one mission: to teach kindness and compassion toward animals, the planet, and one
another.
The founder, Ellie Laks, began this organization in 1999,
which greatly inspired her powerful, autobiographical novel, “My Gentle Barn”.
Her book tells about the founding of the animal sanctuary, as well as her
trials in life and how her special connection with animals helped to not only
to heal them, but also to heal herself. Over the years, The Gentle Barn has saved
hundreds of animals; among them, one bull in particular inspired the
non-traditional narrative of a documentary, “The Dudley Story: A Gentle Barn
Rescue”. Though just one of many rescues, the young bull, Dudley, inspired Laks
and her co-founder, Jay Weiner, to create the touching documentary about
Dudley’s rescue and recuperation at The Gentle Barn.
With so many types of storytelling out there, it’s no
wonder that we are able to channel our passions into so many different forms,
expanding the narrative into new and creative avenues. Just as The Gentle Barn
story is shared through different mediums, each unique chronicle can inspire others
to share their own story, broadening the horizons of art and creativity.
The
following link is the 18-minute documentary “The Dudley Story: A Gentle Barn
Rescue”
If you are
interested in purchasing “My Gentle Barn” by Ellie Laks, follow the link below.
All proceeds go to the care of animals living at The Gentle Barn.
http://www.gentlebarn.org/my-gentle-barn.html
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