If you strolled along Cape Town’s Sea Point Promenade this past weekend, you might have noticed something: the dogs outnumbered the joggers. World Animal Day 2025 transformed the city’s most iconic stretch of coastline into a living postcard of how far South Africa’s pet culture has come—and where it’s heading next.
A Celebration of Compassion
Hosted by the non-profit Paws-A-While, the event brought together Mars, Pick n Pay, Takealot, Pet Express, and the City of Cape Town, drawing more than a thousand visitors and over twenty welfare organisations. Beyond a day of sunshine and tail wags, it marked a shift in how South Africans live, travel, and holiday—with their pets at the centre, not the sidelines.
Once, pets stayed home when their humans packed for a getaway. Now, they’re front-seat passengers, checking into pet-friendly hotels and padding down beaches from Paternoster to Plettenberg Bay. South Africa’s tourism landscape is quietly transforming, with more destinations embracing four-legged guests.
“Pet food has become one of the fastest-growing retail categories,” notes the Mars 2024 Pet Parent Study. “Families are putting pets first.”
Travel, Treats, and Togetherness
At Sea Point, the shift was on full display. Stalls showcasing adoption opportunities, nutrition tips, and eco-conscious pet gear lined the promenade. Mars and its partners donated a remarkable 1 000 kilograms of pet food to local shelters and extended sterilisation drives in underserved communities.
“This collaboration brings education, awareness, and real support to pets and their families,” says Suraya Hamdulay, Corporate Affairs Director for Mars Sub-Saharan Africa. “It’s about building a culture of compassion through action.”
Beyond Cuteness: A Culture of Care
South Africa’s pet revolution is not merely adorable—it’s deeply ethical. With 22% of the country’s 18.6 million companion animals still without homes, adoption and sterilisation are now at the heart of mainstream dialogue. This is no longer just about pampering pets; it’s about protecting them.
Retailers are helping lead that change. Takealot and Pick n Pay have integrated pet-conscious options into their platforms, from collapsible travel bowls to sustainable feeding solutions. “This initiative lets our daily connections extend beyond convenience into compassion,” adds Karla Levick, Chief Marketing Officer at Takealot.
The New Face of Travel
As more South Africans load up their car boots with leashes, treats, and travel crates, a new kind of family holiday is taking shape—one built on companionship and care. Pet-friendly guesthouses are booming, and cafés are adding “paw menus” to their patios.
For Carolyn Dudgeon, Founder of Paws-A-While, the transformation is long overdue. “More families, more pets, more love—that’s the goal,” she says.
The message is clear: in South Africa’s evolving travel landscape, there’s room for everyone, paws and all.
