Ellie Laks, founder of The Gentle Barn, doesn’t just believe the journey to a peaceful world involves rubbing pig’s bellies, hugging chickens, and cuddling turkeys—she lives it. Since 1999, she and co-founder/husband Jay Weiner have rescued, rehabilitated, and provided life-long sanctuary to more than 170 animals on their Santa Clarita, CA farm. State-of-the-art treatments for injured animals include acupuncture, massages, and prosthetics, while all animals dine on vegetables and superfoods such as quinoa, lentils, and beans. The sanctuary offers educational programs for students and at-risk youth, and hosts events such as the annual Gentle Thanksgiving—taking place November 26—at which 250 visitors feed vegan pie to rescued turkeys. To celebrate its 16th anniversary this year, The Gentle Barn opened a second sanctuary in Knoxville, TN that hosted a vegan wedding within its first month of operation. Laks and Weiner’s goal is to open Gentle Barns in all 50 states, which would make us— and a whole lot of animals—very happy