What's a Potcake??? It's Not What You Think :)

We had never heard of potcakes until we came to the Bahamas.  No, it's NOT what you think.. :) "Potcakes" are dogs!  We met a couple in the Bahamas who had adopted four potcakes... and that was the first time we had ever heard about them.  Now, we are in the Turks and Caicos, and one of the marina dogs, Effie, is a potcake. We finally got to meet our first potcake!

The potcake dog is a mixed breed dog from the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos.  The ancestry of the potcake dog is shared among dogs from both sets of islands, since many residents of Turks and Caicos were originally from nearby islands and took their dogs with them. The name "potcake" comes from the congealed rice and pea mixture from the bottom of the family cooking pot that local residents traditionally fed dogs. (Yuk! Can't we just get some Purina dog chow down here??!!)  

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Potcake dogs are have a "shepherd dog" appearance and look like stray dogs. Most have smooth coats, cocked ears, and long faces.  They are mainly brown, but some are red, black, white, or multi-colored.  They usually weigh about 45-50 pounds and are said to be intelligent and loyal.

When we were in Turks and Caicos, we saw billboards about neuter and spay programs, as overpopulation is quite a problem. Local organizations adopt out stray potcake dogs to alleviate the overpopulation problem. In 2005, Turks and Caicos-based rescue organization "Potcake Place" became a registered charity. After running out of families to adopt to on Providenciales, volunteers connected with potential adopters through the rescue's website www.potcakeplace.com and Facebook page. Puppies are vaccinated and sent on airlifts free of charge to adopters.

(Reference information: Wikipedia)