Remember Me Thursday® 2026 Illuminates Pet Adoption Awareness
RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. – Sept. 9, 2026 – In just over two weeks, the world’s largest global pet adoption awareness campaign, Remember Me Thursday® (RMT), will unite animal lovers on social media to shine a spotlight on homeless pets. Observed annually on the fourth Thursday in September, this initiative gathers celebrities, animal welfare organizations, and advocates to amplify the voices of orphan pets awaiting loving homes. This year, Emmy Award-winning actor Bob Odenkirk will lend his name to the cause.
Remember Me Thursday® is thrilled to welcome Odenkirk alongside other noted performers and lifelong animal advocates. Pet lovers are invited to join the movement on Thursday, September 24, 2026, to raise awareness for shelter pets worldwide.
Founded in 2013 by Mike Arms, President and CEO of Helen Woodward Animal Center, Remember Me Thursday® was inspired by the tragic fact that over one million homeless pets lose their lives each year in U.S. shelters. Arms envisioned a global movement uniting animal welfare organizations under one simple message: every orphan pet deserves a loving home.
Bob Odenkirk, recognized for his iconic role as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has also made a personal commitment to animal welfare. His family adopts rescue animals, including his beloved rescue dog, Olive. Odenkirk has actively supported various animal causes, partnering with organizations like Petco and Best Friends Animal Society to advance rescue efforts.
This year, Remember Me Thursday® welcomes Morgan Fairchild, Alan Tudyk, Scoot McNary, and players from the Los Angeles Chargers, among others. For a full list of 2026 participants, visit www.RememberMeThursday.org.
In its fourteenth year, Remember Me Thursday® has engaged in 180 countries, with over 1,000 animal welfare organizations participating in candle-lighting ceremonies and sharing adoption stories. The campaign has generated over 2 billion social media impressions, consistently trending across major platforms.
Animal lovers are encouraged to join the movement by sharing a message about pet adoption on social media this September 24 using the hashtags #RememberMeThursday and #ShineALight.
For further information, including a list of celebrities and organizations involved, please visit www.remembermethursday.org.
About Remember Me Thursday®
Animal lovers worldwide gather on the fourth Thursday in September to light a candle in memory of millions of orphan pets who have lost their lives without a loving home, and to highlight those still waiting for adoption. The campaign is championed by Mike Arms and has placed over 20 million pets in homes since 1999.
SOURCE: Helen Woodward Animal Center
