AMES, Iowa — The Ames Animal Shelter is offering a free microchipping and vaccine clinic.

The shelter is providing free rabies and distemper shots for cats and dogs and bordetella vaccines for dogs.

The drive-up clinic is scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Ames Water Treatment Plant. Owners must remain in their vehicles while their animals are being treated.

There is a limit of three animals per address, and Ames residents can register for a spot until April 19th. After that, the remaining spots are open to the general public.

“In recent years, studies have shown that cases of panleukopenia in cats and parvovirus in dogs are on the rise, despite the presence of highly effective vaccines available to owners through their veterinarians, many link this to the economic barriers for some owners to access this care and these vaccinations. By eliminating this financial barrier and providing these vaccines to owners in need, we hope to improve the overall health of Ames’ pet population for all residents,” said Ames Animal Control Supervisor Ron Edward, in a press release.

To date, 630 microchips have been implanted by the Ames Animal Shelter’s semi-annual microchipping clinics.