The Olympic Peninsula Humane Society (OPHS) recently received funding from the Banfield Foundation to provide 375 pet vaccines and 100 microchips for distribution to animals owned by income-eligible Clallam County residents, the organization announced in early June.

Specific vaccines protect pets from harmful, sometimes fatal, conditions, while micro-chipping increases the chances of lost pets being safely returned to their owners, OPHS representatives noted.

The Banfield-supported vaccines and microchips were distributed free-of-charge, at OPHS Never Lost program events, held in the West End, at a homeless shelter and elsewhere.

“When we have funding and a veterinarian available, we will hold more clinics for community-owned-animals outside of the shelter system,” OPHS executive director Jason Stipp said in a press release. “The challenge of paying for veterinary care contributes to the high number of animals being surrendered to OPHS by pet owners.”

“There’s a nationwide shortage of veterinarians, so helping pets get the care they need is important, but we can’t provide this level of service without grants and donations.”

Dates of future clinics will be announced on OPHS’s Facebook page: facebook.com/OPHumaneSociety.