photo by: Lawrence Humane Society

A veterinarian team vaccinates a dog at a clinic hosted by Just Food and the Lawrence Humane Society Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at the food pantry.

Two Lawrence nonprofits dedicated to helping area families have joined forces to make sure all members of the family — including the four-legged ones — are properly cared for.

Over the weekend, the Lawrence Humane Society teamed with Just Food to vaccinate and microchip the pets of dozens of food pantry customers free of charge.

People experiencing food insecurity and who are having to make choices between buying food or paying for things like medicine and health care aren’t in a position to afford health care for their family pets either, said Elina Alterman, director of development and communications for the Lawrence Humane Society.

“A great number of pet owners are financially unable to access preventative, essential veterinary care,” she said, citing monthly data collected by the animal shelter. Many of those folks indicate that their financial situation has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, she added.

photo by: Lawrence Humane Society

A veterinarian team vaccinates a cat at a clinic hosted by Just Food and the Lawrence Humane Society Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at the food pantry.

Though the animal shelter has provided monthly low-cost vaccine and microchip clinics at its facility — serving between 30 to 60 pets per month — this was the first time it had done so exclusively for patrons of Just Food, the food pantry at 1000 E. 11th St. Alterman said this particular clinic was subsidized by “a very generous donor.”

At the clinic Saturday, 55 pets of Just Food customers were vaccinated and microchipped in a tent just outside the food pantry.

The Lawrence Humane Society also participates in a program with Just Food to distribute pet food and to inform people about the shelter’s Crisis Pet Retention Fund, a program that provides assistance to people who find themselves temporarily unable to care for their pets — whether they are homeless, hospitalized, unemployed or facing other difficulties.

photo by: Lawrence Humane Society

Two dogs wait their turn at a vaccine and microchip clinic hosted by Just Food and the Lawrence Humane Society Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at the food pantry.

In June, the Journal-World wrote about a Lawrence man who used the CPR fund to make sure his dog was cared for while he was temporarily homeless.

For more information about the shelter’s programs to help pet owners and their furry friends, visit the shelter’s website or call 785-843-6835.