Animal-Lovers Invited to Light Up the World for Orphan Pets
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Sept. 19, 2019) – For the seventh annual year, throughout the world, animal lovers, rescue facilities, celebrities, and animal-loving businesses are uniting on one very special day to be an integrated voice for homeless pets – Remember Me Thursday®, Thursday, September 26th. Special plans for this important day include thousands of social media posts, candle-lighting ceremonies, and even Remember Me Thursday® flags flown in places of prominence far and wide, all focused on bringing attention to the plight of shelter animals and with a goal of ending unnecessary euthanasia. Helen Woodward Animal Center, in partnership with SeaWorld (and sponsored by Blue Buffalo, Naturally Fresh, Miramar Kitchen &, Bath and Save This life), invites San Diego animal-lovers to participate locally at a very special candle-lighting event. The community is encouraged to get involved by attending Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Official Remember Me Thursday® Candle-Lighting at Balboa Park on 6th Avenue (between El Prado & Juniper; near Nate’s Point Dog Park), Thursday, September 26, from 5:45-7 p.m.
Remember Me Thursday® was established in 2013 by Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms. Moved by the staggering statistic of the 2.7 million1 homeless pets who lose their lives each year in the U.S., Arms put out a call to rescue organizations in an attempt to create a global awareness campaign. As creator of the International Pet Adoptathon and the International Home 4 the Holidays® program (placing over 16 million pets in homes since 1999), he was able to send out an expansive request and the response was significant.
Now in its seventh year, Remember Me Thursday® has been supported by 180 countries 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, or lighting a virtual candle. The enormous swell of celebrity support has resulted in the topic trending each year on both Facebook and Twitter, garnering more than 1 billion social media impressions since its start.
Each year, participation in Remember Me Thursday® grows and this year a number of philanthropic businesses are getting involved including California Bank & Trust, Milton’s Deli, and 067 Eatery. Staffs of these animal-loving local businesses will be sporting t-shirts with the Remember Me Thursday® logos in a united display of support for the annual campaign. Also supporting the cause, Blue Buffalo will be flying a Remember Me Thursday® flag over their corporate headquarters in Milton, Connecticut, and the San Diego Padres will hold a special Remember Me Thursday® ceremony before their 12:40 p.m. game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Those who cannot attend a Remember Me Thursday® event can still get involved by tweeting, tagging, posting and sharing the beauty and life-saving significance of pet adoption using the hashtag #RememberMeThursday and @hwac on Thursday, September 26th. Animal-lovers can also win life-saving funds, toys and food for adoptable pets looking for forever families at their favorite non-profit, pet adoption organization. To enter the Remember Me Thursday Social Media Contest, simply upload your rescue pet’s photo and story to the #RememberMeThursday Photo Wall for a chance to win!* (*Restrictions apply. Final selection remains at the sole discretion of Helen Woodward Animal Center).
OFFICIAL HELEN WOODWARD ANIMAL CENTER REMEMBER ME THURSDAY® FREE PUBLIC CANDLE-LIGHTING EVENT:
September 26 – Balboa Park – 5:45 – 7:00PM.
(6th Avenue, between El Prado & Juniper; near Nate’s Point Dog Park)
Join Helen Woodward Animal Center and other local animal-focused welfare groups and clubs (including the SoCal Surf Dogs, and Traci’s Paws), along with staff, volunteers, and friends as we shine a light on orphan pets on this global pet adoption awareness day.
This FREE dog-friendly event features:
- Live acoustic music by Marcella
- Kid’s coloring and crafts to commemorate the day
- Pet-focused vendors
- Complimentary food from Panini Kabob Grill
- Giveaways from Blue Buffalo and Naturally Fresh Cat Litter
- FREE Remember Me Thursday® T-shirts with a donation of dog or cat food (10 lb. bag or 6 cans) for our AniMeals program.
- Meet SeaWorld Rescue Team rescue sloth Tess.
- An opportunity to write a special message on the 2019 Remember Me Thursday® Banner
- A special candle lighting ceremony at dusk including:
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- An uplifting presentation from Helen Woodward Animal Center President & CEO, Mike Arms.
- Remember Me Thursday® proclamation from local government officials.
- A reading of the Remember Me Thursday® poem penned by Arms
- The announcement and award presentation of our Remember Me Thursday Pet Hero Award – Pinky
- A viewing of 2019 Official Spokesperson Bethenny Frankel Remember Me Thursday® Public Service Announcement (PSA)
- A viewing of the official Remember Me Thursday video
For more information on Remember Me Thursday® and a full list of participating celebrities and animal welfare organizations, go to www.remembermethursday.org.