Luxury dog hotels in South Africa are serving up spa days and gourmet meals for pampered pups while the nation grapples with inequality. In these luxury dog hotels, canines sip filtered water and nap on velvet, igniting a surreal debate on class and canines.

While bulldogs devour tennis ball cupcakes at Superwoof and poodles lounge beside miniature sunbeds at Vienna’s Village, the real drama unfolds beyond the velvet rope—Cape Town’s dog hotel boom is now fueling a reality TV pitch and “pet spa South Africa” search frenzy.