KINDRED SPIRITS ANIMAL RESCUE CENTER HELPS ABUSED KIDS LEARN KINDNESS.

Byline: Holly Edwards Staff Writer

TARZANA - Walking through the corral at the Gentle Barn, filled with farm animals rescued from abuse and neglect, children from a local group home look at the animals and see themselves.

``Don't worry, don't be scared,'' said a 10-year-old girl, cradling a rooster in her arms and rubbing her nose against his feathers during a visit Wednesday. ``It'll be OK.''

Like the animals, the children were mistreated by the people they trusted the most and are now struggling to regain a sense of safety, said Debbi Weston, a manager at Hollygrove Children and Family Services in Hollywood.

``The kids and the animals both come from places where they weren't taken care of,'' Weston said. ``This is so therapeutic for them because they all have problems trusting people, and they can develop trust if they learn that the animals trust them. It's a start.''

Located in Melody Acres, an area of Tarzana still zoned for agricultural use, the Gentle Barn has been harboring abused farm animals for more than three years.

The owner of the barn, Ellie Laks-Callahan, regularly opens her doors to groups of children from local schools and group homes, helping them to view animals as sentient beings, not objects.

This is particularly important for abused children, she said, because they are at a higher risk of becoming animal abusers.

``The animals have so much in common with them because of their abusive backgrounds, and by loving the animals they are really learning to love themselves,'' she said. ``By understanding that the animals have been severely abused and abandoned just like they were, they turn into protectors instead of abusers.''

The children in the small group from Hollygrove visiting the barn on Wednesday changed noticeably during their two-hour visit.

One 7-year-old boy entered the corral cringing in fear, running away whenever an animal approached.

When Weston asked the boy why many of the animals were crouched together in the shade, he replied quickly, ``They're scared.''

By the end of the visit the boy was running through the field with a brush in one hand and corn in the other, looking for the nearest goat, pig, cow or turkey to rub down or feed.

``I love this one,'' the boy said, throwing his arms around a small white goat.

``This is really a form of violence prevention because the kids are learning to be compassionate to animals and to each other,'' said Jay Weiner, 30, who helps operate the barn.

About 80 animals are housed at the barn, each with a unique story, Laks- Callahan said.

There's the 700-pound pig named Suzie Q, who escaped from a Downey slaughterhouse and ran for her life.

A miniature pig named Wilbur was crippled when his owner hit him with a chair and abandoned him in a field.

And a miniature pony named Katie was rescued from an abusive pony ride and petting zoo. After decades of wearing a saddle and bridle that were too tight, Katie now has severe arthritis and scar tissue on both sides of her head.

``She gets deep tissue massage every week and is fed a diet of fresh fruit and vegetables,'' Laks-Callahan said. ``After three years, she's a new pony.''

The 34-year-old animal lover said she began her rescue effort three years ago when she saved a dying goat from an abusive petting zoo. Soon, word got out that she was in the animal rescue business, and calls began to pour in, she said.

Opening the Gentle Barn, which relies solely upon donations, was the fulfillment of a childhood dream and lifelong goal, she said.

``From the time I was 3 years old, I remember having a magical connection with animals,'' she said. ``Now I just want to share that special bond with everyone.''

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) A ward of the state visiting the Gentle Barn in Tarzana hugs a goat, left, after making an emotional connection. Below, Gentle Barn owner Ellie Laks-Callahan snaps photos of her visitors Wednesday while Zazu, a rescued bird, surveys the view from atop her head.

(3) Children from a group home in Hollywood pet farm animals rescued at the Gentle Barn.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer