Jane Stern has been working for the Anti-Cruelty Society for seven years, the last two as its executive director. She and her devoted colleagues have visited more than 40,000 schoolchildren and this year have helped more than 5,000 people adopt animals.
Stern has no problem keeping her wish list down to one gift.
“If I could have only one gift, the thing I would love would be to have pet owners spay and neuter their cats and dogs,” Stern says. “It may sound corny, but it’s an absolutely perfect gift for me. It’s my personal crusade.
“People are just dumping animals at our doorstep, so we’ve set up a very aggressive policy to encourage people to do the simplest thing to control overpopulation.”
This animal lover’s wish even comes with a gift-back offer. Stern says that anyone who comes to the Anti-Cruelty Society, 157 W. Grand Ave., between February and April will receive coupons for $20 to $45 for spaying or neutering by the veterinarian of their choice.
For a little stocking-stuffer, Stern, 37, says: “Tickets to a Madonna concert would be nice. People say I look like her because I bleached my hair blond and I dance a lot.”
