Beth Stern turned the 2012 death of her English bulldog, Bianca, into a hands-on rescue operation that has placed over 2,000 cats into permanent homes. Since becoming a volunteer foster parent for North Shore Animal League America in 2013, Stern has used her New York home as a temporary shelter for vulnerable animals, from newborn kittens needing round-the-clock bottle feeding to cats recovering from serious injuries. "Fostering is the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life," Stern said. She emphasizes the importance of nursing sick or scared animals back to health before finding them a loving forever home.
The couple's grief also funded a physical expansion of the rescue's capabilities. Their fundraising campaign built Bianca's Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center, a 14,000-square-foot facility on the second floor of the Port Washington, New York campus. The center features cage-free rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, climbing walls, and dedicated medical and isolation suites. This design allows veterinary teams to treat conditions like ringworm and upper respiratory infections without risking the spread of disease to other shelter animals.
This infrastructure change had a tangible impact on the organization's capacity. By moving cats upstairs, North Shore Animal League America freed up ground-floor space to take in more rescued dogs and puppies. The center also doubled the number of cats the organization could rescue and care for on site. Recognized as the world's largest no-kill rescue, the organization reports saving more than 1.1 million animal lives since its founding in 1944.
Stern continues to amplify this work through media and public events. She hosts the annual Kitten Bowl on the Great American Family channel, a program designed to encourage nationwide adoption. Her husband, Howard Stern, regularly highlights the organization's work on SiriusXM, urging listeners to volunteer or foster. Stern also shares updates on rescued kittens via social media, directly connecting potential adopters with animals ready for a second chance.