ON LOCATION: A Second Chance in Paradise — From Island Strays to Canadian Homes

Tucked away in the heart of Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos is a different kind of paradise: Potcake Place K9 Rescue.

TravelPulse Canada recently visited the volunteer-run nonprofit, where tourists are encouraged to spend time with rescued puppies, take them for walks along the beach and help prepare them for life with their future families.

Behind the organization is founder Jane Parker-Rauw, whose journey from concerned island resident to dedicated animal rescuer began with one puppy and a decision that would change countless lives.

One Puppy 

Parker-Rauw never intended to start a dog rescue. In fact, she never intended to stay in Turks & Caicos.

She arrived approximately 30 years ago to open a spa at a resort, expecting to spend just 12 months on the islands before moving on to New York.

Instead, she met her future husband, a Canadian, on her second day. She married and made the islands her home.

But something about her new surroundings troubled her.

Homeless dogs wandered the streets, often struggling to survive, and there were few resources available to help them.

She initially found herself asking why somebody wasn't doing something about it. Then she remembered something her father had always told her.

"Don't just talk about it, do it."

So she did.

Parker-Rauw joined a small group of residents who began collecting street dogs, taking them to veterinarians for spaying and neutering, and returning them to their communities.

But there was a heartbreaking reality. Many of the dogs had puppies, and there was nowhere for those puppies to go.

One day, she found herself at the veterinarian with a tiny black puppy, just weeks old, with a white stripe down its nose and a tail that curled over its back.

The puppy was about to be euthanized.

"Yeah, no, not today."

She took the puppy home, with no real idea what she was going to do next.

A few days later, someone called. They wanted a female, preferably black, with a white stripe down its nose and a curled tail.

The puppy found a loving home and lived for approximately 16 years.

That coincidence sparked an idea. If there was a home for that puppy, perhaps there were homes for others.

She began taking rescued puppies into her own home, sometimes caring for 15, 20 or even 30 at a time. Word spread, and a website followed.

What began as one woman's refusal to look away grew into Potcake Place K9 Rescue.

A Walk on the Beach

Today, Potcake Place, located in Saltmills Plaza in Grace Bay, is a volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming the islands' potcakes.

Potcakes are the local mixed-breed dogs found throughout Turks & Caicos and other Caribbean islands. Their name comes from the tradition of feeding dogs the leftover food that cakes onto the bottom of cooking pots.

Known for their resilience and adaptability, these dogs have survived generations of island life. But resilience alone doesn't guarantee a happy ending.

For the puppies fortunate enough to reach Potcake Place, life changes considerably.

They receive veterinary attention, food, care and the opportunity to learn that people can be trusted.
That's where visitors come in.

When the rescue's current location opened in 2011, Parker-Rauw realized tourists could play an important role in preparing the puppies for adoption.

The idea was to let visitors take the puppies out into the world, expose them to different people, sights and sounds, and help them become confident, well-socialized dogs.

"It's not an excursion," Parker-Rauw explained, emphasizing that the walks are organized solely for the benefit of the animals.

Visitors are given a bag containing essentials such as water, a bowl and waste bags, along with instructions to keep their puppy safe.

Walks are generally limited to about an hour, with consideration given to the Caribbean heat.

And there's no charge.

For puppies fortunate enough to reach Potcake Place, life changes considerably. (Photo Credit: Natasha Lair)

Parker-Rauw says the difference these outings make can be remarkable. A puppy that initially approaches strangers with uncertainty may, after a week of positive experiences, eagerly greet the next person who walks through the door.

During TravelPulse Canada's visit, Moby, a gentle, inquisitive rescue puppy took us to the beach, where he happily explored the shoreline.

What was meant to be a simple puppy walk quickly became one of the most memorable experiences of the visit. And when the time came to return Moby to the rescue, saying goodbye proved surprisingly difficult. In just one short hour, the little pup had managed to leave a lasting impression.

It's a reminder that while these outings are designed to help socialize the puppies, sometimes it's the humans who leave with the greatest gift.

For visitors, it's an opportunity to connect with a local organization and experience a different side of the destination.

For the puppies, it's another step towards finding a family.

Not Just Any Home

While finding adoptive families is central to Potcake Place's work, the rescue’s founder is adamant that getting puppies out the door isn't the goal.

Finding the right home is.

The rescue carefully screens potential adopters, considering their lifestyles, experience with dogs and ability to provide a suitable environment.

"We're very honest," she said, explaining that each puppy has its own personality, needs and quirks.

Some are energetic adventurers who would thrive with active owners. Others need quieter homes, patient families or additional support.

And there is no expiry date on their stay.

"We keep them until we get them where they need to be."

Some dogs have remained in the rescue's care for as long as two years while waiting for the right match. It's a philosophy that speaks to the organization's commitment.

The dogs aren't numbers, and they aren't simply being moved from one place to another. They're individuals whose futures matter.

"We care about where they go; otherwise, why would we do this? I don't want them filling the shelters in Toronto," she said.

From Caribbean Sunshine to Canadian Snow

Turks & Caicos is rabies-free, an important consideration for international animal travel, although Canadian import requirements still apply and vary depending on the dog's age and whether the animal is entering as a personal pet or through a rescue adoption arrangement.

Parker-Rauw estimates that approximately 35% of the rescue's international placements are to Canada, with the majority going to the United States.

But getting puppies to their new families has become increasingly complicated.

Changes to U.S. dog import regulations introduced in August 2024 require dogs entering the country to be at least six months old, regardless of whether they originate from a rabies-free destination.

For Potcake Place, the consequences have been significant.

By six months, many potcakes are too large to travel in the cabin of a commercial aircraft, limiting the options for transporting them to their adoptive families.

As a result, the rescue has increasingly relied on private aviation arrangements and volunteers to help dogs reach destinations such as Virginia and New York, where their new families can meet them.

She's personally accompanied well over 1,000 puppies on flights over the years.

The changing regulations have made an already challenging mission even more difficult, with the rescue having to care for dogs longer while arranging suitable transportation.

And that's where Canadians can help.

Travellers interested in adopting can contact Potcake Place to learn about the screening process and transportation arrangements. Those already planning a trip to Turks & Caicos may also be able to volunteer as flight couriers, helping approved dogs reach their destinations.

Prospective adopters and couriers should confirm the required paperwork with the rescue, their airline and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency before making arrangements.

The rescue carefully screens potential adopters (Photo Credit: Natasha Lair)

Everyone Can Do Something

Running a rescue requires far more than a love of animals.

There are veterinary bills, food costs, vaccinations, medical emergencies and an ongoing need for supplies.
Potcake Place relies entirely on donations and volunteers to keep its work going.

Visitors can bring much-needed supplies from home, including puppy pads, toys, collars and puppy formula, items that aren't always readily available on the islands.

"We don't have a PetSmart here," Parker-Rauw told us.

For travellers who can't adopt, a donation, a few supplies or even an hour of their vacation can have a meaningful impact.

"You don't have to adopt in order to help," she said.

"You can't do everything, but everyone can do something."

It's a philosophy reflected in the rescue's success stories.

There's Hope, who arrived severely malnourished and covered in ticks before recovering and eventually travelling to a family in Ohio.

And Rocky, a six-week-old puppy with two broken back legs whose journey to specialist veterinary care was made possible through the generosity of volunteers, donors and rescue partners.

Then there's Brooke, a frightened mother found sheltering with her puppies beneath a truck during a rainstorm.

To No Longer Be Needed

Parker-Rauw shared during the visit that she doesn't want Potcake Place to exist forever.

"My goal here is to be out of business."

She knows that rescuing puppies, while essential, doesn't solve the underlying problem.

Preventing unwanted litters through spaying, neutering and education is the only sustainable way to reduce the number of homeless dogs.

Her dream isn't to build a bigger rescue.

It's to create a future where fewer dogs need rescuing at all.

Until then, there are puppies to feed, dogs to care for, flights to arrange and families to find.

And there are people like Jane and her volunteers who continue showing up, day after day, because turning away simply isn't an option.

For travellers, Potcake Place offers something that can't be packaged into a typical Caribbean excursion. It's a chance to see beyond the resorts, connect with the local community and make a tangible difference in the life of an animal.

How to help: Visitors to Turks & Caicos can learn more about puppy walks, adoption, flight volunteering, donations and the rescue's current supply needs at potcakeplace.com.

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