A Melbourne charity has played Santa Claws, throwing a Christmas party to ensure disadvantaged pets have a happy howliday.

Pets of the Homeless threw its Christmas party at the premises of charity Transit in Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs.

The animals were treated to free vet check-ups and grooming as well as being given Christmas gifts of treats and toys.

'No way I could give up my pet'

Pets of the Homeless provides pet food, veterinary care and emergency boarding to the pets of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Yvonne Hong founded the charity in 2015 after encountering people sleeping rough with their animals on the streets of Melbourne.

"I noticed that the problem was becoming more and more apparent; there's more people living on the streets and more of them with pets," she said.

She started buying the pets food and bedding with her own money.

"Then I started a Facebook page just to tell people, 'Hey, this is what I'm doing', and it just grew from there.

"Now we have a huge community of supporters so we became a charity."

The charity held a Christmas lunch for disadvantaged people and their pets. ( ABC Radio Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown )

Ms Hong hopes to expand the charity's foster care service in 2018 to assist people whose pets are preventing them from accessing accommodation.

"We see a lot of people who would rather not eat or would rather sleep on the streets so that they could still keep their pet with them."

Ms Hong said homeless people kept their pets with them for a variety of reasons.

"I would like to think, as a pet lover myself, if I was in their situation there's no way I could give up my pet either.

"They provide us with companionship, with love.

"For many people on the streets it's also security, especially for women."

Raymond Roberts has been living in a van with his dog for a year. ( ABC Radio Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown )

Raymond Roberts lives in a van with his dog Abbey.

"I've tried living without her and it nearly drove me insane; I thought I was going to have a heart attack by the time I got her back," he said.

Abbey was one of many pets given a free flea treatment at the Christmas party by Port Phillip Animal Hospital veterinarian Emma Prideaux, who regularly volunteers for Pets of the Homeless.

She also gave free vaccinations to many of the animals attending and treated them for worms.

"I think people find it hard to keep up with the cost of vaccinations," she said.

Pets were provided with free veterinary checks, vaccinations, baths and grooming. ( ABC Radio Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown )

Penella Etyngold, who owns a pet grooming business, volunteered her time to provide free baths and trims.

One dog, Tommy, should be very pleased with his new hairdo.

"We just revealed that he's got a mucky eye so I called the vet over to have a look," Ms Etyngold said.

"We cleaned all the hair, shaved it off, and it should clear up naturally we hope."