Potcake Place
Saltmills Plaza, 363 Grace Bay Road, Grace Bay, Providenciales
Potcake Place is a non-profit dog rescue shelter with a location in central Grace Bay at the Saltmills Plaza. This charity is a popular attraction to see the unique island dog that is the Potcake and to take a puppy out for a walk on world-famous Grace Bay Beach.
What Is a Potcake?
The Potcake is a unique breed of island dog found in the Turks and Caicos and Bahamas. These dogs are a mixture of several breeds, including terriers used for rodent control on ships in days past, pets and working dogs brought by Loyalist settlers in the late 1700s and early 1800s, and possibly even the small barkless hunting dogs introduced to the Caribbean region by the Taíno people prior to the arrival of Columbus.
Potcakes tend to be mid to small-sized dogs (with a typical mature weight of 40–65 pounds or 18–30 kg). Their coats come in several colors and combinations of browns, blacks, creams, tans, and whites. Potcakes tend to be very friendly dogs, especially when raised around people.
The name Potcake comes from what was the traditional food source for the canines: the cake of solidified rice and legumes left in the bottom of the cooking pot after making peas n’ rice, a rice and bean side dish.
Potcake Beach Socialization Walks
Having achieved internet fame on social media and in news outlets like CNN and The Washington Post, the Potcake Place's beach socialization walks allow guests to take a puppy out for a walk on Grace Bay Beach during their vacation. Not only do you get to spend quality time on the beach with an adorable puppy, but the beach walks help socialize the dogs and prepare them for adoption.
Beach socialization walks are offered Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM. Puppies must be returned by 12:30 PM (though with the heat, it's normal to return your puppy early). Puppies are offered to walk on a first-come, first-served basis, and lines can start outside the Potcake Place as early as 9:00 AM. There is often a shortage of available Potcakes to walk, especially during the busy high season when there can be as many as 30 people waiting to walk a dog.
Puppy Adoption
The Potcake Place is first and foremost an animal rescue option. Staff are constantly trying to find safe homes for the countless abandoned and abused Potcake dogs in the Turks and Caicos. Many of the wards at Potcake Place are puppies found in dire conditions.
The adoption process at Potcake Place is simple and straightforward. All applicants must be a minimum age of 25 and need to complete an application form. There is no charge, yet donations are appreciated.
All dogs will have had vaccines appropriate for their age, and a veterinarian’s certificate of health is provided that meets the criteria for entry into the U.S. and Canada. Visit the Potcake Place location in Grace Bay, or see their website for more details.
As of 2024, legislation in the United States mandates that dogs must be at least six months old to be brought into the United States.
Volunteering and Donations
As a non-profit charity, Potcake Place is in constant need of donations, transport of supplies into the Turks and Caicos, and the couriering of adopted dogs out of the Turks and Caicos.
Puppy Couriers
Many puppies and dogs are adopted by visitors and those who live outside the Turks and Caicos. At times, it’s not possible for the puppies to travel home with their new family right away. The Potcake Place is always looking for people who are traveling to the same destination as a puppy and who are willing to accompany the animal on the journey.
Potcake Place meets departing volunteers at the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) with the dog and makes all of the necessary arrangements for travel, including permits and health certificates, an airline-approved pet transporter, supplies, and meeting details at the arrival airport.
Donations and Supplies
Donations, both monetary and in the way of supplies, are greatly appreciated and are a necessity for Potcake Place to continue operating. For lists of products and items needed, and for direct contributions, see the Potcake Place website.
Fostering
Residents and long-term visitors to the Turks and Caicos are also welcome to foster Potcakes. All supplies, food, and veterinary care is provided.