by Laura Conaway

Addison
Courtesy of the Gentle Barn

Addison, a donkey, was abused before coming to the Gentle Barn.

When the wildfires now torching southern California approached their home, Jay Weiner and Ellie Laks knew it was time to run.

But the couple couldn't just throw a suitcase into the trunk. Weiner and Laks operate a nonprofit called the Gentle Barn, which uses farm animals to teach nonviolence. Instead, they fled with 62 critters — 62! — to a friendly animal shelter that offered to put them up.

You can help the Gentle Barn here, and read their original Craigslist appeal here.