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I will have the Potcakes with a side of grits! I came to learn about Potcakes, after (my dad’s) recent trip to the Bahamas Humane Society,. No, this is not an island delicacy, but actually the name for island mixed breed dogs of the Caribbean. Much like our American Dingo, also known as Carolina Dogs, Potcakes are an evolved mixed breed that seem to be just a happy accident. Some say that American loyalists from North Carolina introduced dogs during the Revolutionary War that bred with island dogs creating this “breed.”
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Over the years the name has become synonymous with most mix breed dogs, as pure-bred dogs are the main stay in the Caribbean with pitbulls and German Shepherds being the most popular along with small breeds like poodles and small terriers. The name ‘potcake’ comes from the overcooked rice that cakes to the bottom of the pot, and would be fed to the dogs. While we may have a “pack” of feral dogs in Lowcountry and group of Potcakes is called a “parliament.”
There are over 300 dogs in the care at the Bahama’s Humane Society in Nassau that serves as the shelter for all the islands of the Caribbean.
There are approximately 20 employees caring for all the dogs and cats in this very basic but large animal shelter. He said that while animal cruelty and dog fighting is NOT very common, over population due to backyard breeding is. In 2013, the BHS helped Operation Potcake spay/neuter 2,315 dogs, and in 2014, 1184 dogs and cats. Heartworms are extremely common in shelter dogs and treatment is expensive and time consuming. The extreme heat and humidity makes it a year round problem that they are trying to fix by educating the public about prevention. Check out www.bahamashumanesociety.com for more information about this amazing group and next time you find yourself in a foreign land, instead of checking out the typical tourist attractions, spend one day and visit the local animal shelter and see what they are doing to make the world a better place. I can assure you, you will be glad you did.
www.lowcountrydog.com
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