At atFrits, we don’t see status.
We don’t see background.
We don’t see bank balance.
We only see dog.
Four legs, two eyes, a tail, and a wet nose.
And in the streets around us, we see something else too: devotion.
I regularly watched people living on the street walking with their dogs—people who love their dogs fiercely, protect them, share their food, and treat them like family. The love was never the issue. The barrier was access to basic veterinary care: vaccination, sterilisation, and microchipping.
Then one day, it became deeply personal.
Near our facility, a person living on the street was arrested. His dog was left behind with nowhere to go. We wanted to help immediately—but we couldn’t take the dog into our hotel because he wasn’t fully vaccinated or sterilised.
It felt wrong that a dog should pay the price when a human life turns upside down.
That moment is what pushed me to build something practical—something that protects dogs and protects the community at the same time.
That is why we started the Cape Town Pet Upliftment Project (CTPUP), in partnership with the Cape of Good Hope SPCA: to make sure dogs (and cats) who belong to people in disadvantaged circumstances can access preventive healthcare—and so that if something happens to their person, the dog can safely step into shelter, instead of becoming homeless twice.
Why these three services matter
1) Vaccination: because preventable diseases can spread fast and heartbreakingly on the streets.
2) Sterilisation: because it reduces suffering, prevents unwanted litters, and keeps dogs healthier.
3) Microchipping: because it protects the bond between a dog and their person, especially when life is unpredictable.
How CTPUP works (the simple version)
A sponsor buys a CTPUP voucher through the SPCA.
That voucher becomes real veterinary care:
- Vaccination and microchipping through the SPCA Mobile Clinic
- Sterilisation through the SPCA
In practice, dogs are supported through the process with careful coordination and follow-through—because healthcare only changes lives if it’s completed properly.
And because we are a dog hotel, we understand what “safe” means in real terms.
Our doors can only open to dogs who meet health requirements—because we must protect every dog in our care. That’s why the CTPUP model matters: it helps street-connected dogs qualify for safe emergency boarding when it’s needed most.
What impact looks like
For us, impact is not a slogan. It’s a dog who is protected against disease.
It’s a dog who won’t create another litter born into hardship.
It’s a dog who can be reunited with a person—even if they get separated.
It’s a dog who can come inside, safely, when the world outside becomes too dangerous.
“We know every single dog living on the streets in our community by name, because we live and breathe ‘dog’.” — Yanic Klue
How you can help right now?
You can change the life of a dog—or a cat—by buying a CTPUP voucher on the Cape of Good Hope SPCA website. You don’t have to know the pet’s name to help.
If you don’t have a specific animal in mind, you can leave the pet name blank and CTPUP will assign your support to a pet who needs it most.
Love Isn’t the Problem. Access to Care Is. Help us to help them all. Buy a voucher today.
Yanic Klue
Owner, atFrits Dog Hotel & Daycare Centre
Founder, Cape Town Pet Upliftment Project (CTPUP)
