Today is Remember Me Thursday®, where the world shines a light on all orphan pets in shelters and raises awareness of the life-saving significance of pet adoption. It is also a time to light a candle to remember our own shelter rescues that have found forever homes and celebrate the joy they have brought to our lives.
For Nancy Heigl, co-founder of the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, one such dog was Pico My Guyo, a rescue from the Los Angeles shelter system that enriched her life beyond measure. Sadly he recently passed away from cancer, but she describes him as the "the most noble, kind, inclusive, loyal spirit I have ever known" and added that her "home and heart will never be the same without him."
Just 30% of pets in US households come from rescue facilities, yet each year over 2.7 million healthy, adoptable, shelter animals lose their lives without ever finding a home. Orphan pets should live in forever homes, not die waiting for them.
On Thursday, September 27, 2018, you can be a catalyst for change by getting everyone you know on social media to discuss pet adoption and share the Remember Me Thursday® message, so that others can appreciate the joy of owning a rescue dog like Pico My Guyo.
“Millions of beautiful, adoptable pets will lose their lives in 2018,” states Mike Arms, President and CEO of Helen Woodward Animal Center. “We all come from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds, but together, we can raise our voices and share one life-saving message and literally save millions of pets on this one day.”
In the previous five years of the campaign, 180 countries have supported the movement with hundreds of thousands of individuals and more than 700 separate animal welfare groups around the globe holding candle-lighting ceremonies of their own, spreading the message on social media, visiting the Remember Me Thursday web site, or lighting a virtual candle.
Celebrities have also used social media to share the adoption message and save orphan pets. In 2014, Katherine Heigl was the official spokesperson for Remember Me Thursday®. Visit her luminary page here.
#RememberTheRescue on #RememberMeThursday by tweeting, tagging, posting or sharing the beauty and life-saving significance of pet adoption on social media. To help inspire you further, the Remember Me Thursday site is packed with suggestions, ideas and images for your post and ways in which you can get involved.
Show your support for Remember Me Thursday® and make a difference today!