All for the Dogs! Beth Ostrosky and Howard Stern Rock the Red Carpet with Their Bulldog Bianca for the North Shore Animal League
Lights, camera…dogs? Yes! Lots of lucky celebrity pooches got their chance to bask in the limelight on the red carpet of North Shore Animal League America’s Annual DogCatemy Celebrity Gala 2008 at Capitale in Manhattan, hosted by “Law & Order: SVU” star Richard Belzer. Some were dressed in the black-tie dress code, while others merely donned their authentic fur coats, as they strut their doggy stuff with their pet-obsessed owners, many of whom were competing for film awards (much like the Oscars) in categories like “Best Dogumentary,” “Best Pawformance,” and “Best Tail-Waggin’ Comedy.”
Honorary Chairperson of the fundraiser Beth Ostrosky Stern, who was fresh off tying the knot with Howard Stern and finishing the NYC Marathon, was on hand, chatting up the North Shore Animal League and her video submission featuring her English bulldog Bianca. “Bianca has a training video approach,” she explained of her short film. “She trained for the marathon with me.” Her hubby Howard was by her side, and of course, had a few things to say himself about both of his lovely leading ladies in his life, Beth and Bianca.
Q: Why are you so passionate about the North Shore Animal League?
H: We’re here tonight because we love animals. Beth really does the grunt work with North Shore Animal League and loves animals and has been involved with animal rescue her whole life. She puts her money where her mouth is, having just raised $300,000 with the [NYC] Marathon money for North Shore Animal League.
B: Their mission is incredible. It’s so important that they are a no-kill shelter. Their facility is above and beyond everything I’ve ever seen in my entire life. They go on rescue missions that are absolutely incredible, they shelter these dogs, rehabilitate them, and find loving homes for over 20,000 animals a year, and that to me is the most inspirational thing ever.
Q: What drove you to do the marathon?
B: I’ve been athletic my whole life and I wanted to have an incentive to run the marathon, and I’m the spokesperson for North Shore Animal League, so I decided to run for the animals. And I’ve been so lucky being on [Howard’s] show – his listeners and his fans have been so supportive, my family and friends – all the media outlets that helped me get the word out – it just was beyond incredible the support I got and I was so happy to have done that for them.
Q: How was training for the marathon, are you glad to be done?
B: Oh my gosh, I’m kind of sad! It was such a thrilling experience and I loved every second of the entire journey. It’s been six months of hard-core training and it paid off. I thought I was going to do it in over five hours and I ended up doing it in 4 hours and 15 minutes. It was really cool, but just knowing I was raising money for North Shore really kept me going.
Q: How far did you run while training?
B: My longest run was 20 miles, which was the plan I was following, so I ran 6.2 miles more than I’ve ever run that day.
Q: How’s married life treating you?
H: I love it. It’s a lot of fun. I like the idea that Beth is sharing my name – one more Stern in the world! That can’t be bad! Not many women would want that name.
Q: OK, usually people start to look like their dogs, but there’s no resemblance here – Bianca has short legs, and is pretty stout!
H: I wish I looked more like my dog. (laughs.) No, I look more like a Lhasa Apso or something. I was the one who got the bulldog, I wanted the English bulldog, but the next one is up to Beth.
Q: Was Bianca part of your wedding?
H: We had two weddings, we had a family wedding, and she was definitely part of that, but not the other one.
Q: How has she changed your life?
H: Beth or Bianca? (chuckles)
Q: Both!
H: Both of them have made my life full and enriched. No (smiles), Beth and I have been together for eight years and it’s been one great relationship. Being married actually feels different, but it’s still the same thing day in and day out. We basically just enjoy being together.
Q: And Bianca?
H: Dogs enrich one’s life. I recommend everyone get a dog from the North Shore Animal League. Make sure you love a dog – you know, it’s one of those relationships no one should miss out on in life.
Q: What’s your favorite trick Bianca does – does she get Howard’s slippers?
B: No, but she’s so good – she stays! That’s her trick!
Q: Who’s tougher to sleep in bed with Bianca or Howard?
B: Oh Bianca can’t sleep in bed with us; she can’t even sleep on that side of the apartment with us! She snores and the walls vibrate, so she has her bed on the other side of the apartment.
Q: Who’s cooking for Thanksgiving?
B: I think it’s just the two of us – I think I’ll be cooking. We’ll see. But I like to cook.
Q: Does Howard cook too?
B: Howard’s good at everything! Just look at him! He’s so handsome!
Spoken like a true newlywed!!
