Remember Me Thursday rallies pet lovers every Fourth Thursday of September to shine a light on orphaned pets awaiting adoption. Join the global movement to raise awareness for animals in shelters and advocate for pet adoption. Share their stories, volunteer at local rescues, and consider opening your home to a furry friend.
Want to sponsor Remember Me Thursday? Learn how
Expected Remember Me Thursday Deals
As a cause-driven observance, Remember Me Thursday focuses on fundraising and adoption drives rather than commercial deals. Organizations like the Helen Woodward Animal Center, the day’s founder, partner with shelters globally to host adoption events and awareness campaigns. Pet supply retailers such as PetSmart Charities and Petco Love often run donation-matching programs or in-store adoption events, encouraging customers to contribute. Many local shelters will waive or reduce adoption fees for the day, supported by community donations. We encourage direct donations to your local animal shelter or rescue group. We will update this page with confirmed live events and campaigns as September 24 approaches.
Platform Guide for Remember Me Thursday
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #RememberMeThursday. Share heartwarming photos and videos of adopted pets or animals awaiting homes.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #RememberMeThursday. Post stories of shelter pets and encourage friends to adopt or donate.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #RememberMeThursday. Join the global conversation by retweeting adoption success stories and shelter needs.
Remember Me Thursday Hero
Helen Woodward
History of Remember Me Thursday
Pets deserve to be loved, cared for, and appreciated in nice loving homes, and this is inclusive of our strays and orphaned pets as well. Pet adoption can be a life-changing decision for both the pet and the family involved. Each year, over one million pets are euthanized annually, and although that number has consistently decreased in the last decade, there is still a lot more work to be done in spreading awareness. Remember Me Thursday was created just for that purpose.
The movement began in 2012 and was created by Mike Arms, the CEO of Helen Woodward Animal Center, a non-profit organization located in San Diego County that has been helping animals to find their future homes for over 40 years. It was established in 1972 and provides educational and therapeutic programs for people, as well as humane care and adoption for homeless animals.
Since the organization began the movement, the awareness of the need for animal adoption has steadily increased in popularity. In the previous six years of the campaign, over 190 countries supported the movement with hundreds of thousands of individuals and more than 700 separate animal welfare organizations around the globe holding candle-lighting ceremonies of their own, spreading the message on social media, visiting the Remember Me Thursday website, or lighting a virtual candle. In fact, by 2017, over 330 million people got involved to spread awareness for animal adoptions, setting the campaign up to be a global event.
Even some of your favorite celebrities want in on the action, with celebrities such as Diane Keaton, George Lopez, Katherine Heigl, and many more using social media to share the message and save orphan pets. Remember Me Thursday is observed every fourth Thursday of September, which is September 23 this year, and aims to unite individuals and pet adoption organizations around the world to be an unstoppable, integrated voice for orphan pets in need of forever homes.
Remember Me Thursday timeline
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) begins its mission.
The first U.S. animal shelter is by Caroline Earl White along with other female animal activists, and is called ‘The Women’s Branch of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals.’
The ASPCA recognizes the need to control the pet population and begins its Low-Cost Spay/Neuter programs for adopted dogs and cats.
Best Friends Animal Society is formed and becomes the flagship for the no-kill movement.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Remember Me Thursday
Local businesses can participate in Remember Me Thursday by hosting adoption events in partnership with nearby shelters or rescue groups. Pet supply stores can offer special discounts on adoption kits or donate a portion of sales to animal welfare organizations. Restaurants or cafes might host ‘Paws for a Cause’ events, allowing patrons to bring their leashed pets to a designated outdoor area while raising funds. Businesses can also utilize their social media platforms to share stories of adoptable pets and encourage their employees and customers to get involved, using #RememberMeThursday.
Remember Me Thursday FAQs
When is Remember Me Thursday?
Remember Me Thursday 2026 falls on Thursday, September 24, uniting a global chorus for orphaned pets. This annual observance always takes place on the fourth Thursday of September.
How many pets are in shelters in the U.S.?
Approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide each year, according to the ASPCA. This includes roughly 3.1 million dogs and 3.2 million cats, all hoping for a second chance.
How many pets get adopted each year?
Roughly 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year in the U.S., including 2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats. These adoptions represent countless lives saved and families completed.
What is the goal of Remember Me Thursday?
The primary goal of Remember Me Thursday is to unite animal lovers worldwide to shine a light on the millions of orphaned pets awaiting adoption in shelters and rescues. It encourages individuals to opt for adoption over purchasing pets.
How To Observe Remember Me Thursday
Volunteer at an animal shelter
If you aren’t willing to take a new pet into your home, you can also opt for some volunteer work at your local shelter. By feeding them, petting them, walking them, or just spending some quality time with them, you can bring joy to these abandoned animals, and let them know they are appreciated. Call a shelter today and see where you fit in.
Spread the word
The rapid growth of this movement is majorly due to the active campaigns across social media by individuals, celebrities, and organizations. Actively spread awareness today about shelter and rescue animals, as well as the adoption processes that change their lives forever. Use the hashtag #RememberMeThursday to spark a buzz.
Participate in the Remember The Rescue Pet Photo Contest
Are you already a pet adopter? Use this contest as an opportunity to win amazing prize packages for a rescue of your choice! The Remember Me Thursday campaign is giving away thousands of dollars of food and cash prizes, and you can enter your beloved rescue pet by taking a picture of them for 2021’s Pet Photo Contest starting August 20.
5 Facts About Animal Shelters You Should Know
Most of the pets had previous owners
Owner surrender is a major driver of shelter populations because many pets are handed over to shelters by their owners.
They aren’t choosy
While most data available on animal shelters pertains to cats and dogs, shelters and rescue organizations may be home to a wealth of other animals.
Animal overpopulation is a driving factor
With over 70,000 puppies and kittens being born each day, there is a growing population of unwanted or accidental puppies and kittens throughout the world.
Most unadopted pets get laid to rest
Available data suggests that around 56% of dogs and 71% of cats that end up in shelters around the U.S. are ultimately euthanized.
Shelter adoption is a cost-effective option
Typically, adopting a pet can be free or cost up to $250, which is significantly less than the cost of buying dogs of certain breeds.
Why Remember Me Thursday Is Important
It raises awareness
Remember Me Thursday raises awareness on the effect of pet abandonment, and how we can improve the lives of stray and orphaned pets around us. This campaign has affected the lives of many sheltered dogs positively and given loving homes additional members. The more we know, the more we can improve.
Every pet deserves a loving home
Every pet in the world deserves a place they can call home, even the unwanted ones as well. This campaign encourages the adoption of unwanted pets and the fostering of orphaned ones.
It is saving animals’ lives
A lot of animals’ lives have been and can be saved through the popularity of this campaign. Euthanasia rates at shelters are on the decline, and data collected from 21 shelters across the country found that most have seen a significant decline in euthanasia rates between 2012 and 2018 due to a myriad of efforts intended to curb overpopulation and a rising trend in pet adoption.
Remember Me Thursday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 25 | Thursday |
| 2026 | September 24 | Thursday |
Social Media Tips for Remember Me Thursday
Individuals
Creators
Brands