Our Mission
Helping All Little Things (HALT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rescue and sanctuary dedicated to the small animals that are so often overlooked — with a special focus on animals with unique or complex medical needs.
We rescue animals from shelters, owner surrenders, cruelty cases, and hoarding situations. We provide them with expert veterinary care, a safe and loving environment, and — whenever possible — a permanent adoptive home. For animals with terminal or chronic conditions, we offer compassionate sanctuary care so that every animal can live out their days with dignity and love.
We also believe that education saves lives. Our free resource library covers care guides, health information, and illness guides for every species we work with — because a well-informed owner is the best thing an animal can have.
Animals We Help
While we won't turn away a critter in need, our expertise and primary focus is on animals with unique or complex medical needs. Here's where our experience runs deepest:
Our Specialties
Also Experienced With
Where We Are
Our sanctuary is headquartered in Deerfield, New Hampshire, where our animals receive hands-on care, medical treatment, and long-term sanctuary care. We also have an active network of foster homes across Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
We are able to transport animals throughout New England and the Northeast for most adoptions — so even if you're not local to any of our foster locations, we can often make it work. Please don't let distance stop you from reaching out!
Deerfield, NH — our main sanctuary where animals receive care, medical treatment, and long-term sanctuary care.
Active foster homes throughout MA providing loving temporary care for animals awaiting adoption.
Foster homes in NJ caring for animals and facilitating local adoptions.
Foster homes in PA supporting our rescue mission and connecting animals with families.
What We Do
Rescue & Rehabilitation
We take in animals from shelters, owner surrenders, cruelty cases, and hoarding situations. Every animal receives a full veterinary intake, any needed treatment, and time to decompress before being placed for adoption.
Foster & Adoption
Our foster network gives animals a real home environment while they wait for their forever family. We carefully match animals with adopters to ensure the best possible outcome for both.
Sanctuary & Special Needs Care
Animals with terminal or chronic conditions deserve love too. We provide full sanctuary care — a permanent, loving home with palliative and medical support — for animals who need it most.
Education & Resources
Our free resource library helps current and prospective pet owners understand the unique needs of small animals — from diet and habitat to illness recognition and emergency care.
Meet the Team
HALT is run entirely by volunteers who are passionate about small animals. Meet our Board of Directors:
Danni Challender
Danni started Helping All Little Things in August of 2010 when her best friend's rescue was overwhelmed with guinea pig surrenders. (Fun fact: Danni was terrified of guinea pigs as a child!) She currently runs the sanctuary from her home in New Hampshire, housing senior, sanctuary, and special needs small animals and managing our foster team.
Ericka Chadbourne
Ericka has been involved in animal rescue since 2000. She started rescuing small animals about 14 years ago when she became heavily involved in HALT. She heads up our arts and crafts division, runs auctions, and focuses on fundraising to cover medical care for the animals in our care.
Alanna Burke
Alanna has always been involved in rescue, mostly working with cats, but became a part of HALT in 2017 when she adopted rats and then guinea pigs. She handles all things technical and web-related for the rescue, as well as most of the graphics.
Lynne Blecher
Lynne is a passionate animal advocate who has fostered and adopted unwanted pets since she was a teenager — from reptiles and birds to guinea pigs, mice, rats, dogs, and cats. She is currently a member of Bucks County Aquarium Society and supports the CARES program for endangered fish species.
Jen Dupee
Jen has been involved in animal rescue for a number of years, starting with wildlife rehabilitation at age 16 before moving into domestic animal rescue in 2017. Her primary focus is New Jersey-based surrenders and sanctuary cases. She shares her home with cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and a variety of other smaller exotics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I adopt if I live outside New England?
We transport throughout New England and the Northeast for most cases. If you're outside that range, reach out and we'll see what we can arrange — we want every animal to find the right home!
Do you take owner surrenders?
Yes, for most species. Please note that we are currently not accepting rabbit or rat surrenders due to capacity — we are overwhelmed with both at this time. For all other animals, please fill out our surrender inquiry form and we'll do our best to help. We never judge — we just want what's best for the animal.
Do you take in animals from other rescues or shelters?
Yes, we regularly partner with shelters and other rescues to take in animals who need specialized small-animal care or who have been overlooked.
What does "sanctuary care" mean for you?
Some animals come to us with terminal or chronic conditions — animals who need a permanent, loving home rather than a temporary foster placement. We call this sanctuary care. We believe every animal deserves to live out their days with dignity, comfort, and love, even if that time is short. Our sanctuary animals receive full medical and palliative support and a forever home with us.
Is sanctuary care the same as hospice care?
Essentially, yes — though we prefer the term sanctuary care. Hospice and palliative care principles guide how we manage pain, comfort, and quality of life for animals with serious or terminal conditions. We just think “sanctuary” better reflects the warmth and permanence of what these animals receive.
Are you a 501(c)(3)?
Yes! Helping All Little Things is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. If you need our EIN for donation records or employer matching programs, please reach out and we'll be happy to provide it.
How is the rescue funded?
We are entirely grant and donor-funded. We receive no government funding. Every dollar donated goes directly to the care and medical needs of our animals.
Get in Touch
Have a question about adoption, surrendering an animal, sanctuary care, or anything else? We'd love to hear from you. The best ways to reach us are:
Get Involved
Whether you want to adopt, foster, volunteer, or donate — every form of support makes a real difference in the lives of these little animals.