Don’t be fooled by this beautiful creature’s name. Sea slugs come in an incredible variety of colors and patterns, and some of them are very ingenious little thieves. Certain sea slugs eat algae, steal the chloroplasts and store them inside their own cells. The chloroplasts continue using sunlight to produce nutrients, practically turning the sea slug into a solar-powered animal! Others eat stinging animals such as anemones and hydroids without setting off their stingers. Then they store those stolen stinging cells in their own bodies and use them for protection. Being called a slug does not prevent you from being beautiful, brilliant and a master of kleptoplasty. ❤️ Watch these fascinating beauties in action here.

I am beyond excited to share that Empowering Animals is now officially recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity! 🎉🐾 Our tax-exempt status is effective August 24, 2026, and qualifying donations made to Empowering Animals are tax-deductible. What started as a way to bring animal lovers together, learn about incredible organizations, raise awareness, and help animals wherever we can is growing into something I honestly never imagined when I started. And now, Empowering Animals is officially a nonprofit. This doesn’t change who we are or why we’re here. We’re still going to learn, laugh, probably cry sometimes, discover amazing animals and the people protecting them, and find ways to make a real difference for the animals. And this new exempt status has opened up some exciting new doors and new ways for us to help. Thank you to every single person who has joined this community, participated, donated, voted, shared a story, and loved the animals. Together, we are empowering animals as an official nonprofit organization! 👏❤️🐾

I don’t have the words for this one. For more than three weeks, Jackie fought while an incredible team at Ojai Raptor Center fought alongside her. This morning, her body could fight no longer. I kept seeing her flying home to Big Bear and back to Shadow. I believed in her strength and resilience until the very end. Jackie wasn’t fragile. She was a fighter. She lived the life she was born into, raised her babies, defended her territory, loved her family, and captured the hearts of people around the world. My heart breaks for Shadow, for everyone who loves her, and for the team at Ojai who gave everything they had to try to bring her home. Fly home, beautiful girl. We’ll take care of your home and your family here. ❤️🦅 The official update from Ojai Raptor Center is below.. It is with profound sadness that we share that Patient 26-519 passed away in the early hours of this morning, following more than three weeks of intensive medical care. Over the past several days, her condition continued to deteriorate despite intensive treatment and the combined efforts of our veterinary team and consulting specialists. She remained critically ill, receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring in our intensive care unit. Throughout her time at Ojai Raptor Center, every decision was guided by the available medical evidence, her welfare, and our responsibility to do what was in her best interest. Her remains have been transferred into the care of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). We know this news will be deeply felt by the many thousands of people around the world who have followed her journey, hoped alongside us, prayed for her, and supported the people caring for her. Our team is heartbroken. It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her. We ask for patience and kindness as our staff process this loss. We are working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and will provide a more comprehensive statement including additional information on her treatments and test results.

Reggie is my bestest boy he’s now 8 and I have had him since he was a puppy. Previous to me getting him I had been really sick and confined to my bed for 9 months 🙈 I had then pushed myself through uni which was crazy because it was a 60 mile round trip 5 days a week with two children 🤦🏻‍♀️ So when I completed uni Reggie was the gift to myself because I was worried my body would give up again but I knew if I had a pup I would have to walk and care for him which would keep my body going 🙌🏻💜🐶

Sometimes the best ideas just happen because a conversation was shared. A few days ago I shared "Twiggy is Back!" and @Kate Bullock surprised us with a beautiful linocut print of a giraffe she created. Before long, the conversation turned into something even more exciting. Kate generously offered to create artwork and video the process. And it doesn't stop there, she is donating the finished art to Empowering Animals to auction. The proceeds will benefit an organization that helps the winning animal.👏🐾👏 I feel @Michelle Cyr and @Kate Bullock may have started something really special here. Gifted artists and crafters using their talents and their hearts to help animals. ❤️ Now it's your turn to help choose which endangered animal Kate will create for Empowering Animals. After you vote, tell us why you chose that animal in the comments! If you missed the original conversation and Kate's beautiful giraffe, you can find it here. Thank you, Kate, for your generosity and for helping animals in such a creative way. You make my heart so happy.