Story perspectives
Turkey Therapy: How Smudge Heals Hearts at The Gentle Barn
11/27/2025
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Story summary
- The Gentle Barn in Christiana, Tennessee, offers animal therapy, including turkey sessions.
- Jordan Gullotta, a student at Middle Tennessee State University, found comfort cradling a blind turkey named Smudge.
- Ellie Laks, founder of The Gentle Barn, asserts turkeys offer therapeutic value and are not unintelligent.
- The farm rescues animals, provides rehabilitation and sanctuary, and hosts holiday sessions for visitors.
