More vets will be supported to offer the very best care to Victorian pets, with the latest round of the Victorian Government’s Animal Welfare Fund Grants.

The program has already provided more than $2.9 million to not-for-profit animal shelters, foster care organisations and community vet clinics.

Recent grant recipients, Lort Smith and the Australian Animal Protection Society (AAPS), will each receive $150,000 toward the construction of new veterinary clinics.

Lort Smith’s new facility at Campbellfield will provide low-cost veterinary services, better facilities for animals in the adoption centre, more support for pet carers in crisis and help to reduce pet surrenders through behavioural support and affordable care.

AAPS will use the grant funding to establish a community vet clinic at their new site in Keysborough. The new vet clinic will provide optimal veterinary care for shelter animals and will also provide low cost veterinary services to the community and animal rescue groups.

Lort Smith and AAPS are among more than a dozen animal care and welfare organisations to receive Animal Welfare Grants this year.

The Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program provides grants to not-for profit organisations aiming to improve responsible pet ownership and provide better animal welfare services.

Round 9 applications are open now and will close 12 December. Animal shelters, foster carers, not-for-profit and community vet clinics are encouraged to apply for funding.

Grants of up to $150,000 are available to support the establishment of new low-cost veterinary clinics and grants of up to $50,000 are available to existing not-for-profit and community veterinary clinics to purchase equipment or expand their facilities or services.

Not-for-profit animal welfare organisations can apply for large grants of up to $50,000 and small grants of up to $10,000.

The grants can be used for a range of services including community education programs, animal relief services and facilities, provision of low-cost veterinary services, as well as upgrades to facilities to improve companion animal welfare.

To learn more about the grants and apply, visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au.