RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In just over two weeks, the world’s largest global pet adoption awareness campaign will once again unite animal lovers across social media to shine a spotlight on homeless pets. Observed annually on the fourth Thursday in September, Remember Me Thursday® (RMT) brings together celebrities, animal welfare organizations, rescue groups, shelters, and advocates to become one powerful online voice for orphan pets awaiting loving homes. This year, Emmy Award-winning actor Bob Odenkirk, is lending his name to the cause.

Remember Me Thursday® is honored to welcome Odenkirk along with other acclaimed performers and lifelong animal advocates. Pet-lovers everywhere are invited to join the movement on Thursday, September 24, 2026, to raise awareness for shelter pets around the world.

Remember Me Thursday® was founded in 2013 by Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms. Moved by the heartbreaking reality that more than one million homeless pets lose their lives each year in U.S. shelters, Arms envisioned a worldwide movement that would unite animal welfare organizations behind one simple message: every orphan pet deserves a loving home.

Emmy Award-winning actor, writer, and comedian Bob Odenkirk is best known for his unforgettable portrayal of Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, performances that earned multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice nominations. His career also includes co-creating HBO’s acclaimed Mr. Show with Bob and David, starring in films including The Post, Little Women, and Nobody, and directing several feature films.

In his personal life, Odenkirk has become a dedicated voice for shelter pets and disaster-relief efforts to benefit animals. His family has long adopted rescue animals, and he frequently credits his rescue dog, Olive, with bringing joy and comfort to their lives. He has supported Petco Love Stories by highlighting inspiring rescue success stories, partnered with Best Friends Animal Society during the Los Angeles wildfire response to help relocate displaced animals, and worked with The Dodo to promote the adoption of rescue dogs. This year, he joins the Remember Me Thursday® campaign.

Also new to the campaign this year, Remember Me Thursday® is proud to welcome Morgan Fairchild, Alan Tudyk, Scoot McNary, and Los Angeles Chargers Daiyan Henley, Omarion Hampton and Teair Tart, among others. (For the full list of 2026 luminaries, click on www.RememberMeThursday.org)

The 2026 celebrities join an extraordinary roster of actors, athletes, musicians, animal behaviorists, and social media personalities who have aligned themselves with Remember Me Thursday® since the campaign’s launch, including Alicia Silverstone (this year’s 2026 Featured Luminary), Andie MacDowell (2023 Official Spokesperson), Diane Keaton, Kristin Chenoweth (2017 Official Spokesperson), Rainey Qualley (2023 Official Spokesperson), Wynonna Judd (2018 Official Spokesperson), and many others.

Now entering its fourteenth year, Remember Me Thursday® has inspired participation in 180 countries, with more than 1,000 animal welfare organizations and hundreds of thousands of individuals holding candle-lighting ceremonies, and sharing adoption stories to promote pet adoption. The campaign has generated more than 2 billion social media impressions, while consistently trending across major social media platforms each year. 

Animal-lovers are invited to join the movement by posting a message about pet adoption on social media this Thursday, September 24^th. Use the hashtag #RememberMeThursday and #ShineALight to connect with others honoring the important day.

For more information about Remember Me Thursday®, including a complete list of participating celebrities and organizations, visit www.remembermethursday.org.

For media inquiries regarding the U.S. West Coast Remember Me Thursday® event, contact: PR Manager Jessica Gercke at (858) 756-4117 x 335 or jessicag@animalcenter.org.

About Remember Me Thursday®

Animal lovers and organizations across the globe unite on the fourth Thursday in September to light a candle in remembrance of the millions of orphan pets who lost their lives without the benefit of a loving home and to shine a light via social media on the millions of orphan pets still waiting for their forever homes. The Remember Me Thursday® global awareness campaign is championed by Mike Arms, President of Helen Woodward Animal Center, and creator of both the International Pet Adoptathon and successful Home 4 The Holidays program which, in partnership with national animal organizations, has placed over 20 million pets in homes since 1999. For more information, please visit www.remembermethursday.org or via hashtags #RememberMeThursday and #ShineALight on social media.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emmy-winner-bob-odenkirk-lends-his-name-to-global-remember-me-thursday-pet-adoption-campaign-302874283.html

SOURCE Helen Woodward Animal Center