Pampered pooches living large at luxury hotel

Published Jun 25, 2003

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By Genevieve Serra

It's not always a dog's life for the canines of Cape Town. In fact, a small pack of them are at present living in the lap of luxury at the Twelve Apostles Hotel in Oudekraal.

Located at Oudekraal Bay, the Twelve Apostles Hotel, consisting of 70 bedrooms and suites, two acclaimed restaurants and various conference facilities, has become quite the doggy heaven since opening its doors last November.

The property is the most recent addition to The Red Carnation Hotel collection, consisting of exclusive boutique properties in London, Geneva and Palm Beach in Florida, and is the only five star hotel in South Africa to allow pets to stay in the hotel bedrooms.

Even Heinz Winckler of Idols fame had his family dog, Peanuts, a 14-year-old Maltese, with him on Monday during a shoot for Top Billing.

The hotel offers a two-day and one-night Privileged Pet Package.

The package includes water in stylish, decorated silver bowls as well as chocolate-coated biscuits.

An exquisite room with special designated pet-friendly features awaits guests and pets who opt for the package.

There is a special gift basket filled with tasty treats and toys for both guests and pets.

The hotel also provides entertainment for dogs, and movies like Beethoven and 101 Dalmations can be viewed.

Ian Manley, the publicist for the Twelve Apostles, said that the hotel aimed to make it convenient for visitors.

"You no longer have to leave your pets with strangers and keep photographs of them in your wallet," said Manley.

And wait, there's more. There's even a dog menu for room service. Guests can order a starter consisting of doggy quiche, cheesy doggy biscuits and a bow-wow burrito. The main course includes such delights as chow-chow stew and poodle pasta mutt loaf.

For desert there are chewy chihuahua cookies, apple crunch pup cakes and barking barley brownies.

Carolyn Prades, the retired vice-chairperson of the British Red Cross, from Hout Bay, was at the hotel with her six-year-old Labrador Brutus and four-year-old Spaniel retriever Milo.

"They are my boys.

"The service has been wonderful. I always miss them when I stay at other hotels," said Prades.

Winckler sat cuddling his Maltese on a bench outside the hotel.

"My brother and I were very fond of Charlie Brown comics, so we named him Peanuts. He's actually very strong for his age. He's very obedient," said Winckler.

Caitlin Ferraz, a Top Billing director, said that a shoot that included Winckler and his dog would be aired on SABC 3 on Friday, July 4.

The hotel's dog handler, Carrots Doyle, baths and

massages the dogs using special techniques.

At bedtime the dogs fall asleep on their bow-wow pillow while they are read a bed-time story by their owners.

Manley said the hotel was expecting one cat next month, but they were not too keen on having cats because they were hard to control.

The Privileged Pet Package is priced from R2 180 and is valid until December 20.

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