Remember Me Thursday is a holiday that attempts to solve the problem of animals languishing in shelters by reminding people that these animals are just waiting to be adopted. Of course, one holiday by itself isn’t going to solve the problem because the problem is too large, but hopefully, it can help to get a few more animals adopted every year.

Just in the United States, approximately 7 million companion animals enter the nation’s shelter system, and almost a million shelter animals are euthanized each year. These are numbers that we all should be ashamed of, and they should motivate more of us to take action whenever possible. And a good way to take action is by observing this holiday.

The History of Remember Me Thursday

This holiday was first created by the Helen Woodward Animal Center in 2012. The center was originally established in 1972, and its work was dedicated to the welfare of animals, as well as the adoption of these animals.

Remember Me Thursday was created as an initiative to raise awareness about pet adoption and to pay homage to the lives of animals that have lost their lives. It has since grown into an initiative that’s observed in dozens of countries around the world.

Observing Remember Me Thursday

Obviously, the best way for people to observe this holiday is by taking the time to adopt an animal for their home. Of course, not everyone is capable of doing that, so for these people, they’re going to have to observe this holiday in other ways.

One way to observe this is by spreading the news of this holiday through social media channels using the hashtag #RememberMeThursday. Another way is by donating money, animal food, or other supplies to your local animal shelter.

And people can help educate their friends, family members, and communities about responsible pet ownership on this day as well. If we all work together, we can lower the number of animals that end up in shelters, and thereby reduce the number of animals that have to be needlessly euthanized every year.