Featured Member: Above the Notch Humane Society
Featured member, Above the Notch Humane Society, has been a lifeline for dogs and the people who love them in the White Mountains region since 2001. Known to many simply as ATNHS, this 501(c)3 nonprofit, compassionate care organization is staffed entirely by volunteers and dedicated to giving stray, surrendered, and neglected dogs a second chance at a safe and permanent home.
Serving the North Country Since 2001
Above the Notch Humane Society was founded in September of 2001 in response to a growing need for animal rescue services in Littleton and the surrounding area. From the beginning, the organization has operated on a simple principle: the well-being of every animal that arrives in its care comes first.
Today, ATNHS serves a wide swath of northern New Hampshire, from Franconia Notch to the Canadian border. Its adoption and rescue services reach families and pets throughout northern Grafton and Coos counties, including Littleton, Bethlehem, Franconia, Sugar Hill, Easton, Lisbon, Lancaster, Whitefield, and dozens of other communities. In the years since its founding, the organization has placed hundreds of animals in loving homes.
What Happens When a Dog Arrives
Every dog that comes to ATNHS starts with a visit to the veterinarian. Vaccinations are brought up to date, medical needs are addressed, and each dog is scheduled to be spayed or neutered. During the first week, the dog settles into its new environment and begins socialization.
The organization’s work goes well beyond adoptions. Volunteers respond to reports of abuse, neglect, and abandonment, assist in searches for lost dogs, and provide emergency veterinary care for animals in need. ATNHS also supports other area shelters and rescues by assisting with their programs whenever possible.
An Adoption Process Built to Last
ATNHS takes a thoughtful approach to matching dogs with families. The adoption process includes a written application, an interview with members of the Adoption Team, and vet and personal reference checks. All members of the potential adoptive household, including any family dogs, are asked to visit and meet the dog they are considering. The goal is straightforward: make the first adoption the best and final adoption, with the dog’s best interest as the top priority.
For owners facing the difficult decision to surrender a pet, ATNHS reviews every request individually, assessing available resources and working to ensure each animal enters care responsibly and with the best possible outcome in mind.
Fostering, Volunteering, and Community Programs
The foster program is central to the organization’s mission. Foster homes provide temporary, stable environments where dogs receive individualized care while awaiting adoption, and foster caregivers receive guidance and ongoing support along the way. Time in a home setting helps dogs adjust to family life and improves their chances of a successful placement.
Because ATNHS runs entirely on volunteer power, there are many ways for community members to get involved. Volunteers walk dogs, assist with veterinary visits, help at fundraisers, and support educational programs. Over the years, the organization has also developed age-appropriate school programs teaching young people proper pet care, a nursing home program bringing comfort to elderly and disabled residents, a pet food assistance program for low-income families, and rabies clinics for the community.
Supporting the Mission
As a nonprofit with no paid staff, ATNHS depends on donations, fundraisers, and volunteers to keep its work going. Community events play a big role, including Fido’s Feast, a popular gathering for dogs and their people returning to The Rocks in Bethlehem on April 26, 2026.
Whether you are looking to adopt, foster, volunteer, or donate, there is a place for you in this organization’s work. Every contribution helps another dog find its way from uncertainty to a permanent, loving home.
To learn more, view adoptable dogs, or get involved, visit atnhs.org, call 603-823-7077, or email admin@atnhs.org. Above the Notch Humane Society can also be found on Facebook and Instagram, and its mailing address is PO Box 98, Franconia, NH 03580.
