'It's everything dog': Cape Town's doggy hotel celebrates a decade of success

Tasleem Gierdien

Tasleem Gierdien

5 November 2025 | 13:58

atFrits Dog Hotel and Daycare Centre has flourished into a thriving pet hospitality business, as dog lovers across the city still flock through its doors.

'It's everything dog': Cape Town's doggy hotel celebrates a decade of success

atFritz Dog Hotel and Daycare Centre

Africa’s very first five-star dog hotel is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

The bold concept has flourished into a thriving pet hospitality business, as dog lovers across the city still flock through its doors for daycare services and short or long-term overnight stays.

Yanic Klue, founder of the atFrits Dog Hotel and Daycare Centre, explains that she previously worked in corporate finance, when she was inspired to open atFrits after seeing something similar in America online.

Klue said that after coming up with the idea, she spent five years saving money before finally opening the dog hotel in 2015.

"I can't actually say what I saved was savings, because it wasn't even a drop in the bucket. That was the first biggest challenge... no bank looked at me because this concept was so bizarre. I had to pitch it to the City of Cape Town... I explained to them how forward-thinking we are. If it wasn't for the City that was forward-thinking, I don't think atFritz would've opened their doors in 2015."

Klue explained that every dog's stay (seconds, minutes, hours and days) at this dog hotel was recorded, so if your dog gets sick or shows behavioural changes, there will be evidence for owners to review.

While the hotel enjoys a decade of howling success, it's not only for the rich and famous.

"atFritz is not only for the rich and famous, we have lots of community dogs... I started the Cape Town Pet Upliftment Project where all the vagrants who have dogs in the community are sterilized and vaccinated through the programme. If for example, John who owns a dog gets sick or ends up in jail, the community knows that dog comes to atFritz immediately and stays with us," Klue explained.

"When you have a dog or pet, it's a healthy environment for you. Having a dog is having unconditional love. My biggest goal is to see that every township dog gets a best friend through a kid, because dogs heal people."

Klue believes that the hallmark of a healthy community is one where both pets and animals are healthy.

She takes pride in being a pioneer in the growing industry, noting that 40% of her current team has been with her since the business began in 2015.

"I'm really proud of atFritz because it was hard. Ultimately, I'm just a SME... but the dogs need the best best care, whether they're from rich people or street people, we see dog."

Get the whole picture 💡

Take a look at the topic timeline for all related articles.

Trending News