A Keep Canines Cosy update: we've been inundated!

We're almost speechless.

Our Hope Project has been busy assisting dog owners who are homeless or in housing crisis since 1994. This is certainly not the first year that the small but dedicated team has relied on the generosity and thoughtfulness of volunteers and donors to stuff stockings, ensuring that both dogs and owners get a little festive cheer over Christmas. But the response to this year's call out for knitted coats has been absolutely unprecedented.

Word travelled further than ever before, with boosts from the wonderfully supportive knitting and craft press as well as a much-appreciated tweet from John Barrowman helping to keep the momentum going. Knitting groups put signs up in shops and spurred each other on, individuals tweeted us weekly updates on their progress and every week a stack of requests for patterns came in through the inbox as people spotted the campaign on this blog, on Facebook or Twitter, in their favourite reads or in our supporter magazine, Wag!.

Over 1,000 volunteers answered the call, and we're so grateful to each and every one. And if you missed it this year or want to have another go, we will undoubtedly be putting the word out again next year - watch this space next Autumn!


Clare Kivlehan, who manages the project, says:

“The response from the public has been amazing. We have received hundreds of beautifully knitted jumpers of all shapes and sizes from people all over the UK who want to makes sure that dogs in less fortunate circumstances are well looked after this Christmas. 

Many knitters even knitted scarves for the dog owners and wrote personal letters to go with their gifts. We are delighted we can make the festive season a little brighter this year with the addition of some cosy dog jumpers in the hampers.”

Here you can see some lucky dogs, all of whom belong to Dogs Trust HQ staff, testing out the goods before they get packed into hampers. 

In the meantime, if your knitting fingers are feeling restless why not:

• Knit a blanket for your local centre (you're welcome to drop in and deliver it during opening hours or pop one in the post)
  
• Start a stack for next year's Hope Project appeal (!)
  
• Handcraft some gorgeous goods to sell and raise funds for us on eBay

If you know anyone who could benefit from the assistance of the Hope Project, please share with them the information from our website.