Soraya McKay | Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary

Volunteer Corner: Christopher Bernique

Mar 26, 2025

Meet Volunteer Christopher Bernique.

Christopher has been married to his wife, Dorothea, going on 45 years next month! He now hails from Summerville after returning to the States from England in 1996. He has two children, Stephanie and Stephen, and four wonderful grandchildren.

Christopher spent 22 years in the United States Air Force as an Aircraft Electrician until his retirement in 2000. He then continued working with the SCDOT in Traffic Engineering for another 13 years until his medical retirement.

Finding himself with lots of time on his hands, Christopher decided to put his love for dogs to good use when he began to volunteer with Dorchester Paws, where he met our own Michele Griffin! After the Covid hiatus, Christopher began looking to volunteer once again with dogs. After connecting with Michele on Facebook, he came out to Hallie Hill at her invitation and the rest is history, as they say! Christopher shared, “The staff and volunteers here at Hallie Hill are a friendly and welcoming group and I felt this was the place for me where I hopefully could make a difference in the lives of the dogs at the sanctuary.” Christopher volunteers his time 3 days a week and is ‘Fear Free’ certified!

Christopher and his wife have had the privilege of owning many beloved animals over the years, the fondest memories created by a pedigreed Bichon Frises, named Jeeves, who was purchased in England and named after the storied British butlers! The collective Bernique pack has been quite eclectic over the years including a Pomeranian, a Toy Poodle, two Bichons, a Chihuahua, and a Chinese Crested. Their current adorable canine master is named Monte, a Silky Terrier who will be 16 years young in May!

We thank Christopher for his dedication to the animals of Hallie Hill – we are ALL lucky to have you with us!

National Poison Prevention Week

Mar 17, 2025

National Poison Prevention Week is March 16 – 22.

We must recognize and acknowledge poisons and toxins affecting our furry friends to prevent emergencies and life-threatening situations. While some of the common pet toxins aren’t necessarily deadly, depending on the amount of exposure and timeliness of treatment, they can still be detrimental to your pet’s overall health and quality of life. The following 10 toxins, on the other hand, are decidedly deadly. They aren’t common, and you may not have heard of some of them, so it is essential to bring awareness.

1. 5-Fluorouracil: An ointment to treat skin cancer.
2. Amphetamines: Both prescription and illicit drugs are equally dangerous for pets.
3. Baclofen: A prescription muscle relaxer for humans that is life-threatening for small dogs.
4. Calcium channel blockers: Common blood pressure medications, such as diltiazem, amlodipine, verapamil, and nifedipine.
5. Lamotrigine: Prescription human medication for seizure sufferers.
6. Hydroxytryptophan: An over-the-counter human supplement.
7. Hops: The flower used to make beer.
8. Metaldehyde: An ingredient in some slug and snail baits.
9. Blue-green algae (BGA): A naturally occurring algae that sometimes grows in lakes, ponds, or rivers. 10. Methomyl: An insecticide ingredient used in some fly baits.

March’s Adorable Adoptables

Mar 12, 2025

Meet Hallie Hill’s Adorable Adoptables for March!

Looking for a new furry family member? Meet some of the adorable, adoptable pets at Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary this month! These sweet animals are eager to find their forever homes, and one of them just might be your perfect match.

If you see a new best friend, visit halliehill.com to fill out an adoption application. Once approved, you can schedule a visit to Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary to meet these wonderful pets in person.

Give them the love they deserve—your new best friend is waiting!

Tucker
Meet Tucker, a handsome 12-year-old hound with a heart as sweet as his lemon-and-white coat! Despite his senior status, Tucker is full of energy and enjoys exploring the world around him. He has a mischievous side and a talent for escaping fences, so leash walks are a must for this little adventurer.

Rex
Meet Rex, a delightful 3-year-old bundle of energy weighing in at just 12 pounds! He could be a blend of Chihuahua and Jack Russell—he’s got a playful spirit and a sweet, affectionate personality. Rex is a jumper with impressive leaping skills, and he loves to show off his acrobatic moves as he zooms around the yard or races down the hall. Watching him in action is pure joy!

Sparkie
Meet Sparkie, a handsome 4-year-old gray and white male pit bull with a heart full of love! Sparkie is a big, strong boy who loves hanging out with people and soaking up all the attention he can get. While he’s been fine with other dogs at the sanctuary, his fast and enthusiastic approach can sometimes intimidate more shy pups. Once he settles in, though, Sparkie is a sweet, affectionate companion who thrives in the company of humans.

Monet
Meet Monet, a beautiful 4-year-old calico cat who’s been patiently waiting for her forever home. Monet is a bit shy at first, but once she gets comfortable, she’s a gentle and calm companion who enjoys the company of other cats in her enclosure. She’s not demanding and is perfectly content to observe the world around her, offering quiet companionship and love when she’s ready.

Help us “Bridge The Gap” at this year’s Cooper River Bridge Run

Mar 5, 2025

Are you planning to run the Cooper River Bridge Run this year? It’s SO easy to do some good, too! Run for Hallie Hill and allow supporters to ‘put their money where YOUR feet are’ to benefit the deserving animals of Hallie Hill!

The Cooper River Bridge run is a Charleston tradition where runners take on the challenge of 10k over the Cooper River Bridge. Register today as a Hallie Hill runner and work to fundraise for our furry friends.

Running’s not your thing? No worries! Sign up to sponsor one of our runners! When you give to our runners’ fundraising pages, you are helping care for the 200+ animals of Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary through everyday necessities like food, medicine, microchips, vaccinations, spayings or neuterings, and life-saving medical procedures.

While we are no strangers to surgeries at the sanctuary, we have had many recently.

We would love it if you would please consider contributing to our cause today! Together we can Bridge gap between animals and forever homes!

Hallie Hill Needs Your Help

Feb 19, 2025

If there is one thing we are reminded of on a regular basis it is how wonderful the community support is for Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary.

Recently, we have seen the community share its generosity through our Medical Equipment Sponsorship program. Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary is excited about opening our new medical care facility – The HUB! This will allow us to treat our dogs and cars onsite rather than transporting them to veterinarians in the community.

As we work toward fully outfitting The HUB, we need some medical equipment to become a full-service veterinary clinic. Community members have already helped us purchase several key pieces, and we hope to complete all of our medical equipment purchases by the end of the month.

We are asking for our generous supporters to consider sponsoring our major remaining equipment needs, such as a countertop autoclave, anesthesia machines, oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeters, dental scaler and polisher, and so on.

If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring equipment please visit: https://www.halliehill.com/hub-medical-sponsorship/. All sponsorships will include recognition signage honoring the donor(s) for their generous support of Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary.