As the province and the world battles the coronavirus outbreak, homeless people are being left with even less to keep themselves afloat.
For many spending their days on the streets, dogs are a source of happiness that they go out of their way to provide for. Amid the outbreak they have had to abandon their pets as they are not allowed at lockdown shelters.
Local pet hotel, AtFrits is making sure the treasured animals of Cape Town’s homeless are not alone.
“With the Cape Town Pet Upliftment Project (CTPUP), AtFrits will also care for the animals of the homeless that were a part of our joint initiative with the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, Identipet and de Waal Park. All these dogs are up to date with their vaccinations, are micro chipped and also sterilised, thanks to the support of you, the Cape Town Community. The homeless will receive shelter at the specific shelters and AtFrits will care for their four legged friends who will not be granted access to these shelters,” said Yanic Klue, owner of AtFrits Pet Hotel.
Since the lockdown, many residents have been concerned about the pets of homeless people and AtFrits has come to the rescue. Even before the lockdown their joint initiative with Cape of Good Hope SPCA and Identipet has been giving homeless animal-owners hope.
Pet-owners can now paw it forward by purchasing a voucher at AtFrits for a disadvantaged person on the last Saturday of every month. The voucher can be redeemed at the SPCA mobile unit in De Waal Park. This initiative aims to have all of the homeless dogs in Cape Town chipped, vaccinated and cared for.
During the lockdown, AtFrits will also act as a foster home for NGOs who are effected by the lockdown.
“We aren’t doing this for PR, we truly care about the animals and want to see that they are looked after,” says Klue.
City of Cape Town ward councilor, Brandon Golding says the hotel’s help is greatly appreciated at this time.
“I would like to thank Yanic and her staff for their great contribution during this time. Today, the first pets were dropped at the atFrits Hotel during the initial relocations. More will follow in the coming days. Please note that AtFrits are doing this at their own cost,” said Golding.
As the lockdown continues, Capetonians can take comfort in the fact that no dog will go without while AtFrits continues their efforts.
