Island Inspired Dog Names

Ok, so Potcakes aren’t one specific, famous dog. Nor do they have an island’s name. Nor are they even that popular — yet. But with a slow rise in social media appearances, along with the rise in popularity of lesser known vacation spots such as Turks and Caicos and the persistence and dedication of local Humane Societies, there’s little doubt that these friendly mates will soon be making their way around the world. 

So what are Potcakes? Potcakes are the dogs of the Bahamas, as well as Turks and Caicos — that is to say they are the dogs found on many of the islands that stretch from the Dominican Republic to Florida, not including Cuba or the Dominican Republic itself. They are named for the type of food they have regularly been given for decades now: the leftover, cakey scrapings from cooking peas and rice left in the bottom of pots and pans. What makes them so special? They are a microcosm of the type of development that has helped to cement individually recognized breeds all over the world since the time of the earliest domestication and a sign of the type of international cooperation that can bring both awareness and impact to universal canine issues. 

While Potcakes may not be a recognized breed, largely due to their limited existence and considerable variance in appearance, that does not mean they aren’t well-defined. They are typically described as having long faces, cocked ears, and smooth coats, generally standing around two feet tall at the withers, weighing an average of 45 pounds, and coming in a wide variety of coat patterns and colors. Their core aesthetic basis stems from a mix of German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever and English Fox Terrier, all of which seem to sport the iconic “potcake smile”. Although this may seem vague compared to well-established and recognized breeds, they do have one characteristic that sets them apart: their stomachs. Because food sources were sometimes even scarce for the people who inhabited the chain of islands, dogs often suffered the same hardships, and were therefore given only what could be spared. In the process, they developed incredibly hardy stomachs, ones that could process foods that would likely make most other dogs sick. 

Unfortunately, despite the efforts to keep these dogs spayed and neutered, there is rampant overpopulation throughout the island chain, leaving many to suffer numerous unfavorable fates. Fortunately, the issues have also spawned significant awareness on both a local and international level. Volunteer-based organizations like the Potcake Place have sprung up to help care for, foster, and adopt out these exceptionally hardy and well-tempered dogs within the islands themselves. They even go so far as to allow tourists to volunteer to temporarily foster the potcakes during their stay for cheap, easy care, socialization and even adoption, while canine charity OutPaws has helped to transport over a thousand back to the United States where organized efforts help distribute them internationally. 

In all, these lovable dogs may continue to suffer to a certain degree while greater efforts are put in place to control their population and care for those who survive, but by just being easy-going, adaptive, adorable, and endlessly grateful, they have brought awareness to issues that are not only affecting them, but many dogs worldwide.