Beth Stern (right) with Joanne Yohannan,
Senior VP of Operations of NSALA
Bianca’s Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center, named in honor of Howard and Beth Stern’s beloved furry best friend, is a one-of-a-kind, cage-free environment for rescue cats at the North Shore Animal League America’s (NSALA’s) Port Washington, NY campus. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday, Oct. 30th.
The amazing story began when Beth’s love for animals left her distressed at the sight of cats in cages at NSALA. She knew she wanted to do something – so she found an amazing partner in Joanne Yohannan, Senior VP of Operations of NSALA. With the support of NSALA colleagues and Rachael Ray, Billy Joel, Hallmark, the Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust, and of course Howard Stern, their dream became a reality – there are now 12 free-roaming cat areas that feature plenty of shelves and perches so that the cats have vertical space to roam!
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Howard Stern’s
Rolling Stone Cover
The kitties enjoy lots of natural sunlight, which pours through the exterior windows. Visitors can watch cats play, snooze and interact through the interior curved-glass windows. A highlight is the special nursery designed for new mother cats and their litters. Located in a central corridor, the nursery has a large viewing window so the public can watch the moms and kittens as they grow and thrive.
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The Billy Joel Room when it was still under construction
For all animal lovers, a visit is a must! And for anyone with young children, a visit is a beautiful foundation for engaging in a discussion about love, compassion and extending a helping hand to a person or an animal in need.
What better culmination to the visit than adopting a beautiful “best friend,” seeking only a forever home with a loving family? The holidays are just around the corner, and if you have love in your heart and room in your home won’t you consider adopting? I hope so!
