Naperville’s ADOPT picks new executive director
Chris Stirn first walked into Naperville’s ADOPT pet shelter four years ago.
She was there with her sister, Rhonda Boggs, who wanted a dog.
Rhonda walked out with her dog. And Chris? A new job as a medical technician.
“It was fate,” Stirn said. “I thought it was such a fantastic facility and I love what they do. By chance we happened to be there and I found a position. They had me fill out an application and the rest is history.”
That was in May 2009. Now, Stirn has been named executive director of ADOPT, or Animals Deserving of Proper Treatment.
She will oversee operations as ADOPT heads into its 25th year of improving the quality of life of animals and placing them in permanent homes through rescue, care and humane education.
In the next year, Stirn said the no-kill shelter plans to expand its spay/neuter program, increase adoption hours and build on its outreach to the community with more day camp programs.
“I feel like next year is going to be a big year for us,” she said.
Stirn worked at a veterinary clinic before coming to ADOPT. Before being named executive director, she was director of operations for a year, taking on responsibility for activities at the shelter and stepping up to support fundraising and community development efforts.
In her new position, Stirn will be responsible for all aspects of shelter operations and financial management, including programs related to intake, adoptions, animal care and community outreach.
Stirn said business tends to slow down at this time of year, but the shelter will host its holiday cookie walk Dec. 7 and a holiday open house Dec. 14.
Stirn’s own 2-year-old Labrador retriever Uno, who she took home through ADOPT, accompanies her to work on occasion, usually for Scout troop functions. Stirn also adopted a black cat named Salty, now 4 years old, through the shelter.
Stirn said ADOPT, located at 420 Industrial Drive, typically takes in about 800 to 1,000 dogs and cats a year, handles around 600 to 800 adoptions, and performs around 600 to 800 surgeries.
Since its incorporation, the group has rescued, cared for and placed more than 28,000 animals. The organization operates four primary programs: cat and dog adoptions, spay/neuter programs for area rescue groups and low-income families, foster care for special needs animals, and Blessed Bonds — a program that provides temporary care for pets of seniors and others undergoing transition.
“The spay/neuter program is important and big,” Stirn said. “There is always the problem with pet overpopulation; there are way more animals out there looking for homes than there are homes. Increasing our adoptions is a big priority as well. Our goal is to find homes for all the animals.”