Terri Peters
Several years ago, my family visited Turks and Caicos as part of a cruise itinerary. While researching things to do there, I read about a dog rescue where volunteers could walk puppies.
Sadly, our cruise port was on Grand Turk and Potcake Place K9 Rescue on Providenciales — two different (and very far apart) islands in Turks and Caicos, which is made up of 40 main islands and cays.
Recently, though, as my family headed to an all-inclusive resort in Turks and Caicos, I was delighted to learn we'd be on the same island as Potcake Place.
So, we made plans to take a taxi from our resort into town and visit the shelter.
Terri Peters
A potcake is a term for a dog native to the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. The name came about because locals once fed the stray animals the remains in their cooking pots.
Although there's no exact formula for a potcake's DNA, the breed is essentially a mixed-breed street dog.
They're social and food-oriented and can be seen roaming the streets throughout these countries as strays. Contrary to popular belief, they are not wild dogs, simply domestic breeds without homes.
Potcake Place runs on donations with a mission to reduce the number of homeless potcakes on the island, in part by adopting rescues out to approved, screened homes.
And, if you happen to be visiting Providenciales, you can volunteer to walk one of its dogs.
Terri Peters
Beyond the $30 cab ride we took into town, the experience was completely free.
To walk a puppy, we got to Potcake Place a little before 10 a.m. and waited in line with many other visitors who were there to volunteer.
After filling out a form and waiting our turn, a volunteer brought Heidi out to meet us.
A sweet black-and-white pup who was just a few months old, Heidi was handed off to us with a leash and a tote full of poop bags, treats, water, and a collapsible bowl.
Terri Peters
We were told we could walk her all over the town and given some simple rules: Heidi had to be back to the rescue by 12:30 p.m., and we should stick to dog-friendly parts of town.
A volunteer also suggested some good, dog-walker-friendly spots, including a local coffee shop and the Ritz Carlton in town.
Terri Peters
After a rundown of the rules, we were off with Heidi in tow.
Not only was she a super-sweet pup, but also this activity was an amazing way to explore downtown Providenciales.
We got coffee at a local shop, shopped for souvenirs, walked on the beach, and rested on the beautiful lawns of the Providenciales Ritz Carlton, all with Heidi leashed up next to us.
She seemed as thrilled to be out and about with us as we were to have her, even if she did get tired of walking a few times and needed to be carried (a possibility the volunteers at Potcake Place warned us about).
Spending a morning exploring Providenciales with my husband, two teenagers, and a puppy was everything I hoped it would be.
What's more, Potcake Place staff can help families adopt the dog they walk and get them home to the US.
I'd have brought Heidi back to Florida with us in a heartbeat, but my particular airline wouldn't allow it. If I visit the island again, I'll be sure to go back — and fly with a dog-friendly airline.
