The "Potcake" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Finishing our evening meal at Danny Buoys along the main strip in Providenciales.  Still in the same building and location that it was when we first visited the island in 2003.  The Irish Pub is a popular sports bar now rather than a laid back family restaurant as it was nine years ago.  Carol and I along with our friends Jerry and Just Sue are parked on the deck, under a huge flat screen TV that is broadcasting some college football game.  The noise inside the restaurant is unbearable.  Screaming and yelling as well as breaking into song as they watch a different game.  At the end of the deck is a dark colored dog, laying off to the side as to not attract the attention of the waiter and being chased away from the customers.  My wife finishes most of her BBQ pulled-pork sandwich and places the rest next to me.  I look at it and then at her.  She whispers for me to take the rest of the sandwich to the end of the deck and give it to the dog.  I stand and head slowly toward the dog with the food, but he sees me approaching and walks away from me.  I try to coax him to take the food, but he is frightened so I place the food on the deck and walk back to my seat.  As soon as I sit back down I see that he had found the food.  Within minutes the woman sitting across from us rises, walks to our table, taps me on the shoulder and thanks me for feeding the dog.  She tells us of all the strays on the island that are starving or are being killed by the government to try to control the over-population of the dogs.  By now my wife has tears in her eyes.  The dogs are known as Potcake dogs.  It is a name given to the dogs of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.  The name came about because for years and years the locals fed the strays the congealed rice and peas mixture that remained in the cooking pots after they finished eating.  It is a mixed breed dog that has now been given it's own name.  Kind of a Shepard-mixed, but is extremely intelligent, loyal, calm and hardy.  And, they are everywhere!  The following day on the beach we saw a woman and young girl with four black puppies and a slightly larger yellow puppy.  Naturally had to go over to see them and take some photos of them.  Found out they were rescued Potcake puppies.  Youngest ones were 6 weeks old while the larger puppy was 8 weeks old and they were having the best time rolling and playing in the sand.  The woman and girl were members of the TCSPCA and were helping with the adoption and fostering of the dogs.  People on vacation can return to the states with a dog if they are approved by the TCSPCA.  No charge and they will help by giving you a carrying box and helping you get through customs and security with the dog.  You must take the dog on the plane as a carry-on and keep it under the seat in front of you.  If you don't care to keep one for yourself, you may wish to act as a courier for someone who has asked for one online.  The TCSPCA is trying their best to help with the overpopulation of the Potcake dogs on the island.  Carol and I talked it over and both agreed that puppy in our home at this time would not work since we have a cat who is 19 years old and in the last stages of his life.  Not quite fair to him to bring a new puppy into the house.  We have saved the website address and at some time may consider helping out by adopting one of the cute Potcake pups.  Info for the adoption or courier service is: mail@potcakeplace.com or www.potcakeplace.com.  Can you help?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.