Plea for the Potcakes
The spotlight is always cast on the beautiful. And I am not referring to people, although I suppose that’s probably true as well. The stunning beaches of the Caribbean are always being showcased, in hopes that the tourists do not focus on the poverty and neglect that’s evident on many of the islands.
I try to take action from time to time and help those who are less fortunate. And if I’m being honest, I don’t do it as often as I should. Sure, I’m kind to all people and offer my assistance whenever I can–but I damn sure could do more. It is so easy to get caught up in our own personal and familial needs that we forget about the larger picture, our communities and the world. But I have found people to be generally giving and good, and this is a bright star in the often dark and frustrating world we live in.
In 2019, some of you may remember that I hiked 50 miles up the bottom coast of New Jersey. Although, it began as a personal challenge and a way to take A LOT of photographs–it transformed into a way to raise money for the unhoused population in Cape May County. I felt like my privilege allowed me to walk those miles by choice and if I earned profits from the beauty of the photos then I should give back to the place where they were taken.
After my recent trip to Turks & Caicos, I felt similarly affected. I spent most of my time on Middle Caicos where I took so many gorgeous pictures of the landscape, and then in the next breath I saw the desolation, ruins, and daily struggle of the people living there. Middle Caicos, while the largest island of the chain, is the least densely populated with less than 200 residents living there. The few grocery stores, gas stations, and medical centers are all on North Caicos (the closest island)–and they leave much to be desired in the services and goods offered.
All of that is a premise to get to the “Plea for the Potcakes”. Thanks for staying with me so far.
What is a Potcake?
Potcake is the name given to the dogs of the Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos Islands. It came about because the locals fed the caked remains of the cooking pot to the dogs.
I spend a lot of time researching a country before I visit, and I had indeed read about Potcakes, but there was nothing to prepare me for the prevalence of them on the islands. Exploring the tiny villages of North Caicos and Middle Caicos led us to encounter at least 50 Potcakes in one day. So many are malnourished, likely dehydrated (there is no water system on the islands, they rely on rainfall for their personal water supplies), and simply without homes.
The photo at the top of the post was taken when this poor pup just wouldn’t move from the middle line in the road. No matter how close our car got, he didn’t stir a bit.
Needless to say, I was saddened. SO…
My plea for the Potcakes is for you to help in any way you can
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Turks and Caicos collection here: https://www.tphotos.co/shop/turks-caicos
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