Pet owners across Durham and beyond will be invited to walk in memory of animals they have lost when the RSPCA’s Walk to Remember returns on National Pet Memorial Day this autumn.
The flexible fundraising event will take place on Sunday 13 September 2026. Participants are encouraged to complete a five-mile walk, but there is no fixed route or formal start and finish point. Instead, people can choose a location that has personal meaning, whether that is a favourite park, a regular dog-walking route, a place connected with an adoption or a spot where they found comfort after their pet died.
The RSPCA says the event is intended to give families, friends and communities an accessible way to remember lost companions while raising money for its rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming work.
A personal walk to remember a much-loved pet
The scale of last year’s event showed how many people wanted a shared way to express their grief. More than 900 people took part, honouring their pets, exchanging memories and sharing experiences of losing an animal. Together, they raised £39,000 for animals in need.
This year’s event is being promoted as an opportunity for the thousands of owners who want to memorialise a lost companion. Participants may walk with relatives and friends, organise a local community event or take a quiet walk alone.
Nickey Newman, from Shepperton in Surrey, has signed up with her husband Stuart to remember Disney, their Shih Tzu, who died unexpectedly two days before Christmas last year aged 15 and a half. The couple plan to walk along the Thames Towpath towards Weybridge, following a route they used to take with Disney, and stop at a pub garden to raise a glass to her.
They will be joined by their Maltipoo, Punk, and a newer family dog, the Shih Tzu puppy Gizmo. Newman had raised £260 through her JustGiving page at the time of the article, after receiving support from friends and relatives.
“Losing Disney just before Christmas was heartbreaking,” Nickey said. “While we are so grateful for the 15 and a half years we had with her, the house still feels different all these months later. She was a true family member, our sons grew up with her, and even our other dog, Punk, missed her terribly, which only added to our sadness, watching her wander the house searching for Disney. Our hearts were truly broken.”
Newman said commemorating Disney mattered because the dog had been central to family life. She also described the walk as a lasting way to remember her while helping animals that need care.
“It really hits home how many people recognise our grief and want to support me,” she said. “Walking for the RSPCA feels like we’re doing something lasting for Disney, and helps us remind ourselves that we haven’t and won’t ever forget her, all while helping other animals who need rescue, love and care.”
How the RSPCA walk works
The RSPCA says there is no pressure to complete a particular challenge. People can select a meaningful five-mile route, register their walk and ask others to sponsor them in honour of their pet. Participants receive a digital event pack after signing up.
Fundraisers can work towards commemorative items, including key rings and travel mugs, by reaching stated fundraising milestones. They can also share their fundraising page, record their route with Strava and connect with other participants through a dedicated RSPCA Facebook Group. The group allows people to share their pet’s story and exchange route ideas.
Money raised will support the charity’s work with animals. The RSPCA says donations could help answer a call to its cruelty line, feed a dog in one of its centres or support a kitten in finding a new home.
“There’s no start line, finish line or pressure to complete a challenge. Instead, choose a walk that feels meaningful to you. It could be a favourite park, a daily dog walking route, or a place that holds special memories – like near their adoption centre or somewhere you found solace after they passed,” Sophie Lewis, the RSPCA’s Mass Participation Manager, said.
The event follows research highlighting the strength of the bond between people and their pets. A previous RSPCA survey found that 99% of people regarded their pets as part of the family, while more than 60% viewed them as their best friend. However, 26.2% had previously said they struggled to find a way to memorialise or mark an animal’s death.
People wishing to take part can sign up and find further information at rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/fundraise/trekking/walktoremember.