Spring might be around the corner but for homeless dogs there is always a chill in the air.

Ilford Recorder: Give a Dog a Coat Appeal's Lara Evans, pictured, is urging people to knit dog coats or donate old ones for dogs with homeless owners.Give a Dog a Coat Appeal's Lara Evans, pictured, is urging people to knit dog coats or donate old ones for dogs with homeless owners. (Image: Archant)

Luckily one pooch-lover is on a mission to clothe some of our less fortunate four-legged friends.

Lara Evans, from Woodford Green, is urging people to knit or donate old dog coats for canines sleeping rough with their homeless owners.

Dogs aren’t just companions for some of London’s homeless, they act as “hot water bottles” during the cold nights according to Lara.

Old jumpers and jackets can easily be transformed into a warm and snug dog coats says Lara, who has the backing of national pet retailer Pets Corner.

Ilford Recorder: The Give a Dog a Coat Appeal is urging people to knit dog coats or donate old ones for dogs with homeless owners. Picture: Lara EvansThe Give a Dog a Coat Appeal is urging people to knit dog coats or donate old ones for dogs with homeless owners. Picture: Lara Evans (Image: Archant)

Lara said: “I was heartbroken in London seeing all the people and their pets freezing over Christmas and I really wanted to make the general public aware of how they can help.”

She started the appeal after she started knitting dog coats herself and realised she could help more animals faster with the help of the knitting public. Pets Corner is now accepting coats across its 96 shops in the UK.

Lara said: “It’s very sad, there are a lot of homeless people that have dogs for companionship and because they double up as a water bottles at night. These coats could be a life-saver for these animals and these people.”

The amateur knitter is working with charities such as the Mayhew Animal Home and Shelter to distribute the coats in London and Essex.

Ilford Recorder: The Give a Dog a Coat Appeal is urging people to knit dog coats or donate old ones for dogs with homeless owners. Picture: Lara EvansThe Give a Dog a Coat Appeal is urging people to knit dog coats or donate old ones for dogs with homeless owners. Picture: Lara Evans (Image: Archant)

She is also working with Turkish animal charity Dalyan to help dogs keep warm during the country’s harsh winters.

Lara said of her work so far: “Once the dogs see a dog coat they get straight in there – it’s like they know. There are so many pampered pooches out already but these coats could save a dog’s life.”

Pets Corner managing director Dean Richmond said: “We are delighted to be able to support the Give a Dog a Coat Appeal. We would like to encourage all our customers to get knitting or donate their old dog coats.

Customers can drop their knitted items or old coats to a local store including Pets Corner in Nags Head Lane, Upminster.

Ilford Recorder: The Give a Dog a Coat Appeal is urging people to knit dog coats or donate old ones for dogs with homeless owners. Picture: Lara EvansThe Give a Dog a Coat Appeal is urging people to knit dog coats or donate old ones for dogs with homeless owners. Picture: Lara Evans (Image: Archant)

Or email giveadogacoat@virginmedia.com for a postal address.