HEAVY PETTING
Fido gets a luxury hotel
INSTEAD of leaving Fido with the neighbour when you head off on holiday this season, consider putting him up in a luxury hotel.
At the latest doggy hotel to open in Cape Town this week, pooches can chill out watching 24-hour DogTV on a flatscreen, have a drink at the dog bar, take bubble baths and indulge in “pawdicures” and reiki massages — all while you keep an eye via CCTV cameras.
But it’s not cheap — R500 a night for the Platinum Suite.
The extreme pampering may seem ridiculous to most, but six dogs have already been booked in at atFrits Dog Hotel and Daycare Centre, even though it only opened on Tuesday.
Owner Yanic Klue said: “One of our guests will be staying until February while her owners are abroad on holiday.”
Klue, inspired by a similar concept in the US, has been planning the project since 2010. She is no stranger to pets: she grew up in a household with five dogs and now owns six with her husband.
“Each room [in the hotel] has a different theme because each dog has a different personality.
“There are seven private rooms downstairs, which are platinum and deluxe, while upstairs there is a doggy dormitory which is a perfect place for the more social dogs. Each owner can pick whatever they want for their dog.”
The two platinum suites, Hollywoof — Puppyrazzi Strictly Prohibited, and Dogald Trump — Your Royal Houndness, are furnished with bedding, linen, and a flatscreen TV. Pooches also receive a complimentary bubble bath, spa and dental treatment daily.
The deluxe rooms are named K9 Nkandla, which is Africanthemed; Pupeye The Sailor; Sweetie Paw; Jurassic Bark; and Granny Liz, “named after my mother who loves dogs”.
The cheapest lodging, at R250, is the doggy dorm which houses up to 20 dogs — each on their own bed — depending on the size of the dorm.
“The platinum guests have access to Skype with their owners, but other guests can load an app where they can watch their dogs on our camera surveillance as they please. Each room gets a turn-down daily at 7pm for hygiene purposes,” she said.
Extramural activities include reiki, extra walks, and one-on-one play sessions.
The hotel began taking bookings long before it opened.
“The second week in December is almost full,” said Klue. “We’ve had inquiries and bookings from Johannesburg, from people who want to bring their dogs to Cape Town with them, spend the day with them, and then check them in with us at night.
“We also have a number of foreigners who have already booked their dogs in with us.”
And nothing is too much of an ask.
“A lady phoned last week to book in her dog and insists that he go for a walk on Lions Head at 6am every morning. No other mountain will do. We’re happy to oblige.”
Pooches can chill watching 24-hour DogTV on a flatscreen or have a drink at the dog bar