Alicia Silverstone Joins Global Push to Find Homes for Shelter Pets
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. – September 24, 2026 -- Animal lovers, celebrities and rescue groups in more than 180 countries marked the 14th annual Remember Me Thursday campaign today, using social media, candle-lighting ceremonies and flag raisings to draw attention to pets still waiting for adoption.
Organized by Helen Woodward Animal Center, the movement asks participants to post on social media using the handle @RememberMeThursday and the hashtag #ShineALight, sharing stories about rescue pets to highlight the ongoing need for adoptions.
The campaign began in 2013 to address pet homelessness statistics.
Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms launched Remember Me Thursday after learning that more than a million homeless pets die in the U.S. each year without finding homes. What started as a call to rescue organizations has grown into a campaign involving more than 1,000 animal welfare organizations worldwide.
