Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Middleton.
Hi Jennifer, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I grew up in the Charleston area. I graduated from the College of Charleston in 1995 with a degree in education. I enjoyed a successful career teaching science and math for 17 years in the Charleston County School district with the majority of those years serving in Title 1 schools.
I was awarded Teacher of the Year for the county in 2007 and I earned National Board certification in early adolescent science in 2008. During this time my husband and I were bringing up two sons who were enrolled in Charleston County Schools.
My husband is a fence contractor and was hired to do some work for Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary which happens to be just a few miles away from where we live. He told me about it and took me to see it for the first time in 2010. It was such a beautiful place and I immediately wanted to be a part of it, so I started volunteering there.
I had the good fortune of meeting the founder of the sanctuary, an amazing woman named Helen Bradham, and not too long after that, she offered me a job at the sanctuary. I knew I was feeling “stale” at my job as an educator and that is not what makes a good teacher. Students need enthusiasm and energy, so I decided to take the job at the sanctuary in the summer of 2012.
Before leaving, I jokingly told my students that I was going to be a CSE. They asked- “what’s that?” and I replied “Canine Sanitation Engineer.” I truly had no clear idea of what my job would entail, or where the position would lead me, but I felt certain I would be cleaning up some poo at some point!
Within a short time, I was made the director and have been in charge of programs and operations for an amazing non-profit organization housing over 200 animals each day (mostly cats and dogs).
Hallie Hill has a small but dedicated staff, a terrific volunteer program, and a successful adoption program that focuses on finding homes to meet the needs of our very special residents that have been accepted from other local shelters/rescues because they were a little less adoptable for reasons such as health, age, or behavior.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Even though things weren’t always smooth, I can’t say things have been rough, or in my case “ruff”. I have always enjoyed challenges. As a teacher, the students who were the most “challenging” were also the ones that made me feel the biggest sense of accomplishment once I got them hooked.
I never thought I would find a career as challenging as teaching until I got directly involved in animal welfare!!! OMG, it is never-ending. It really makes me miss holidays and summer vacation! I had too much to learn. (and still, do) Animal behavior, medical protocols, how to make a volunteer program more successful, how to increase adoptions, budgeting, marketing, enrichment, fundraising, accounting, more!!!
There is always more to do. There are always places to improve the staff, the facility, and the programs. There is a nonstop cycle of fundraising and always more animals in need. I often find myself working 12+ hours a day and not getting everything done I wanted to. There are just so many things to learn and too many ways to improve. My biggest challenge is making time for myself and my family.
I love my work, so I think I am easily consumed by it. I feel if I work a little harder, I might get Hallie Hill at its peak performance. HAHA- I read that if you don’t feel a sense of urgency, you won’t keep improving or growing. I think I have a long time before I can stop feeling that sense of urgency. Just last weekend, I took the family on a two-night getaway to Savannah- just to goof off and do touristy things.
It was a short drive and allowed me to stop focusing on work for a short while and spend some time with my loved ones. I think the definition of a “balanced” life is a moving target. But my challenge may always be finding that happy medium between personal and professional.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary?
I am the executive director of Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary.
Hallie Hill is located on almost 40 acres in Hollywood, SC. It was founded by Helen Bradham over 30 years ago. It currently houses about 150 dogs, 50 cats, and 4 guinea pigs. Hallie Hill’s mission is to provide a compassionate safe haven with quality food and medical care for dogs and cats; a temporary home for those able to be adopted and a forever home for those in need.
We specialize in animals who may be considered less adoptable by shelters and rescues due to issues such as health, age, or lack of socialization. Hallie Hill is very different from regular rescues or shelters in that we have the resources and facility to provide long-term care if the animal is not able to be rehabilitated. While HHAS has many special needs animals, we also get many who are very adoptable!
Our Adoptions Coordinator, Michele Griffin is tops at her job and counsels adopters completely through the process (both before and after the adoption) to ensure that both the animal and the family are happy. The grounds at HHAS are absolutely amazing and people who visit are always blown away by the space the animals have to enjoy and display natural behaviors that they could not in a shelter environment.
There are large open pastures, majestic oaks to provide shade, and ponds that resident canines can use to cool off in the summer. The facility features a beautiful log cabin that dates back to the early 1800s. It was relocated from Virginia many years ago and stored but only re-assembled on the sanctuary in 2016.
The cabin is currently used for fundraisers, events, and occasionally board meetings. HHAS also has a cemetery named Angel’s Crossing, where we inter animals who have resided at the sanctuary. The staff stops their daily tasks and pays respects to the beloved soul who has passed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.halliehill.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halliehillanimalsanctuary/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HallieHillAnimalSanctuary/
Image Credits
Pam Hennet
