Celebrity Actor and Animal Welfare Advocate Steps Up to Champion Campaign as Featured Luminary 

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. , Aug. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In just over 4 weeks, the biggest, global Pet Rescue Awareness Campaign will light up across social media. Over the past thirteen years, Remember Me Thursday® (RMT), observed on the fourth Thursday in September, unites an esteemed group of celebrities, along with animal welfare organizations, and other animal-proponents, to become an unstoppable, integrated on-line voice bringing awareness to orphan pets. This year, celebrated actor and animal welfare advocate Dylan Walsh is lending his voice as the campaign's newest luminary. Remember Me Thursday® is honored to welcome Walsh to this year's campaign.  Animal-lovers across the world are invited to join Walsh and other philanthropic celebrities to be a part of this very special day, Thursday, September 25^th, 2025. 

RMT was established in 2013 by Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms. Moved by the staggering statistic of over one million 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 20 million pets in homes since 1999), he was able to send out an expansive request and the response was significant.

Dylan Walsh is a prolific actor with an illustrious resume of television and movie credits. His most notable role comes as Dr. Sean McNamara on FX's hit show Nip/Tuck (2003–2010). Most recently he has portrayed the Mayor of New York on Blue Bloods, sparring opposite Tom Selleck's New York City Police Commissioner, a role he wrapped in 2024. Up until the show's end in 2023 he also played General Sam Lane, father of Lois Lane, in Superman & Lois. Walsh is also no stranger to being a star on the silver screen, with film credits including The Stepfather, Congo, Secretariat, and The Lake House.

Walsh is currently working in Mississippi on his new film 'The Man Across the Street,' set to open in November, 2026. Before heading out to work on his new title he took time to discuss the importance of supporting animal welfare, and shared his feelings on the high value he places on animal rescue organizations.

"In our current world I see too many shelter pets left alone and abandoned, all of them deserving of a loving family and forever homes," said Walsh. "I am proud to have my name linked to Remember Me Thursday. Any organization whose mission is helping animals is something everyone should be behind. There are so many animals in horrific situations. To take in dogs, and cats, that have been through the worse and love them till they are adopted into loving, forever homes – this is support my family will always be behind. Thank you for the opportunity to represent and speak for this great cause."

Beyond his work on screen, Walsh is no stranger to supporting animal welfare. In 2019 Walsh partnered with San Diego-based rescue The Animal Pad to promote dog adoptions, generating dozens of applications within an hour through a single post. His love of animals is deeply personal. He and wife Leslie adopted their beloved dog Ash, a 12-week-old street puppy, from New Jersey-based rescue Dogs and Cats of Antigua. Walsh has another dog, Riley, who is currently on a courageous journey battling cancer.

"Whether it's in the shelter or in a loving home – it's important we make sure our animals feel the strength of love and support during their hard times," exclaims Walsh. "We can support them and help them the same way they share that strength with us during our hard times." While Riley's cancer is not curable, it has not spread. She remains pain-free and is enjoying a high quality of life, surrounded by love.

Walsh joins an impressive list of celebrity supporters also aligning themselves with RMT. Notable personalities, professional athletes, pet behaviorists and social media pet stars have signed on as "luminaries," committing to share their thoughts on pet adoption in videos and via their social media accounts throughout the campaign. Nearly 100 influential luminaries have joined the cause. Past and present supporters include: Alicia Silverstone, Allison Sweeney, Amanda Balionis, Andie MacDowell (2023 Official Spokesperson), Bo Derek, Carrie Ann Inaba (2015 Official Spokesperson), Christian Siriano, Daymond John, Diane Keaton, David Backes (Anaheim Ducks), Dyan Cannon, George Lopez, Jake Muzzin (Los Angeles Kings), Jill Rappaport, Katherine Heigl (2014 Official Spokesperson), Kevin Frazier, Kristin Chenoweth (2017 Official Spokesperson), Lou Wegner, Mark Buehrle (World Series Champion), Rainey Qualley (2023 Official Spokesperson), Rick Springfield, Ryan Newman (NASCAR), SDSU Mens Basketball Team, Trisha Yearwood, Tony Kornheiser, Trevor William Hoffman, Wynonna Judd (2018 Official Spokesperson), Xander Schauffele, and many more.

Now in its thirteenth year, RMT has been supported by 190 countries with hundreds of thousands of individuals and more than 1,000 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 2 billion social media impressions since its start. 

For more information on Remember Me Thursday® and a full list of participating celebrities and animal welfare organizations, go to www.remembermethursday.org. For more information on the US west coast candle-lighting events 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.

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SOURCE Helen Woodward Animal Center