There are stories that quietly remind us that healing is possible even when the odds feel immense. Molly, a loggerhead sea turtle, was found off the shore of the Florida Keys deeply entangled and weighed down by barnacles and a tumor that was more than ten pounds in her world of salt and sea. She could barely swim. At The Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys she received care, surgeries, nourishment, and time to regain her strength. When she was ready, she was carried back to the edge of the ocean and given her moment of release. A small tag now moves with her gentle path through the water, tracing the next chapter of her life. There is something sacred in witnessing a life return to the place it belongs. Not because it is simple, not because it is easy, but because someone cared enough to help. Someone made space for healing, and watched her go home again. You can read her story and learn more here Molly the Sea Turtle rescue and release at The Turtle Hospital website. Or watch the video on The Dodo here. 🐢 Have you ever witnessed a rescue story that stayed with you? I would love to hear about it.

There are blue balloons outside a mailbox in the forest! 💙 The Bageni family of mountain gorillas, living in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has welcomed twin babies. Their family now numbers 59 individuals. The twins were born to Makufu, an experienced mother welcoming her seventh and eighth babies into the world. Twin births among mountain gorillas are rare. In the early months, infants depend entirely on their mother for warmth, transport, nourishment, and protection. Because of this, park rangers and conservation teams are increasing monitoring to quietly ensure the twins and their mother are doing well during this fragile beginning. Mountain gorillas are a critically endangered subspecies, found only in the forests of the DRC, Uganda, and Rwanda. Not long ago, their numbers dropped to around 400. Today, through protection, community involvement, and dedicated guardianship, their population has grown to about 1,000 individuals. Every birth still matters. Makufu herself carries a story of resilience. She was once part of the Kabirizi family, which suffered devastating losses to poaching, including the loss of her own mother. That history makes this moment feel even more tender. Mountain gorillas are known for their intelligence and deep family bonds. They live in close knit groups led by a silverback, where cooperation, play, learning, and caregiving are shared responsibilities. They recognize individual faces and voices, grieve their dead, comfort one another, and form lifelong relationships. Young gorillas learn by watching, imitating, and staying close to those who keep them safe. Watching a family like this grow is a reminder that protection is not just about survival. It is about giving space for connection, learning, and care to continue across generations.

This thread exists because how we spend our money matters. Most of us are already purchasing everyday necessities. Food, gifts, household items, small comforts. I choose to redirect some of that existing spending toward options that also support animals, as a form of stewardship. Purchasing With Purpose is a resource inside this community for doing exactly that. Everything shared here aligns with the heart of Empowering Animals. These are options I personally support because they allow care for animals to be woven into daily life, without asking for more time, more effort, or more consumption. Take a moment to click the link below and look around. Be sure to choose the organization you want to support in the dropdown menu. Keep this as a resource you return to when you want to purchase with purpose. You can explore the resource here and find it in the classroom: Purchasing with Purpose A note on transparency. Some links shared through Purchasing with Purpose are affiliate links. They help sustain this community and the work behind it. Ten percent of net proceeds are donated directly to animal organizations doing on-the-ground work. This is not about doing more. It is about choosing with intention.

Sometimes animals remind us that wisdom doesn’t always need words. A glance at the right moment. A body leaning close. A quiet presence that seems to know before we do. There was a moment when I was hurting, eyes closed, unaware JZ was even beside me. Then he gently licked away a tear. It surprised me, but it also didn’t. He is always there when something feels off, even before I name it. Monkee loves to place herself right between me and my phone. If I don’t put it down and give her some very deserved love, she’ll start biting my phone. It makes me laugh every time. And if I’m honest, she’s usually right. I do need to take a breather. If you feel like sharing, I’d love to hear how your furry companion has shown you just how intuitive they are. ❤️

Marsupials raise their young in a pouch for months. Think of it as a five-star hotel with womb-service and a free shuttle. Did you know there are around 330 species of marsupials in the world? About 30 percent live in the Americas, mostly in South America. Roughly 70% live in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, making that region the global hotspot for marsupials. Australia has the most marsupial species by far, which is why animals like kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and wallabies are so iconic there. Here in the United States, we have just one native marsupial, the Virginia opossum. Can you name 3 marsupials not pictured below? 🐾