Lasagna’s History
Written by Allie Barnett, Director
In 2015, we had moved into an amazing new space on a 7 acre farm to run our non-profit, Safe Haven Equine Ministries. We lived in a tiny house and had an adorable 4 stall barn. It was just missing one thing… barn cats! We visited Woodford Humane Society searching for outdoor cats and adopted 3 sweeties and named them Winston, Churchhill and Lasagna!
Lasagna was actually part of a sibling set who had all been adopted- except him! His litter mates were named Odie, Garfield, etc…. so there was just a random… leftover… Lasagna. Naturally, we couldn’t change his name.
As soon as we opened up their boxes after brining them home, they literally clawed up the walls and cuddled in the barn rafters. Over the next five years, they all settled, became decent mousers, and grew to love their new home! Lasagna remained the most friendly of the three and frequented our riding lessons and occasionally even came inside our home for a visit and sniff around.
In 2020, only Winston and Lasagna remained at our farm. I had the amazing opportunity to come on to Justin’s Place as the first employee! Over months, I watched as our sweet 7 acre farm got packed up and construction was under way at Justin’s Place! There were noisy bulldozers moving ground for the riding arena, construction on buildings and several people coming and going! Slowly, we began bringing over some of our animals to Justin’s Place farm, starting with the equines (Stitches, Scarlet, TJ, Dixie, Milly & Waffles). Then came the sheep, Taco, and piggies, Charlotte and Wilbur. Lastly, was Winston and Lasagna! I was nervous to bring them as it was still an “unsettled” setting but I knew it was time. We brought the cats over with their favorite items placed in a few buildings to help them settle wherever they chose. Sadly, that first day they both headed straight for the cornfields, away from all the noise!
Days went by and then weeks and then months. After around three months, we had considered them gone forever. Justin’s Place was just beginning mock lessons on the property and volunteer trainings. One evening as the sun was setting, I was teaching a mock lesson in the new arena and heard a faint “meow”. I squinted towards the corn fields and saw movement in the grass. I walked over and could not believe my eyes… there sat Lasagna, severely underweight and hesitantly crouching as I approached. “Lasagna?” I said. He meowed and ran over immediately purring loudly. My eyes teared up as I sat and pet him for several minutes before announcing to the group “Guys! It’s Lasagna!” All of the new faces in the arena scratched their heads and likelythought, “Allie, that’s not lasagna, that’s a cat.” :)