Rescue Tail / Cody the Potcake

Potcake? What on Earth is a potcake? Potcakes are the mixed-breed street dogs of a limited gene pool of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. On these islands, the locals cook a pea and rice stew that leaves a cakey substance on the bottom of the pot. This “pot cake” is fed to the street dogs — hence the name! Geographically speaking, with our proximity to the Bahamas, it isn’t uncommon for overcrowded, locally run shelters and rescues to transport these island dogs to Florida and placed for adoption in the United States.

In most cases Potcakes are highly social street dogs, well-socialized to people, cars, trucks and other dogs. However, for any animal, transportation from the Bahamas can also be a frightening experience. Placed into a shipping crate, loaded onto a plane, brought to a busy airport, picked up by a stranger and then placed in a car are all new experiences to these free-roaming island dogs.

For Cody, the experience was one that left him deeply afraid. After a long flight, multiple transports and a four-hour car ride to his family here in the Keys, whom he had never met, understandably he didn’t create a heartwarming first impression. Within just a day, the adopter had second thoughts.

Cody’s transport driver picked him up and brought him home, unsure of what to do next. It was then that Cody broke free and was suddenly loose, completely unfamiliar with this new island and not knowing any humans for safety and comfort. So began the challenge to safely capture Cody.

Our Marathon Campus was called a week into the escapade and made aware of the situation. Our well-trained and compassionate Animal Control officers had the skills and knowledge to assist in ensuring Cody was caught. Now what?

It’s difficult to express how frightened poor Cody was. The last week of his life had certainly been the most stressful he had ever encountered, and each experience was filled with fear and negativity. For even the most calm and neutral dog, a shelter can be a scary place! Filled with new people, new sounds, new smells. Step one was decompression. We just let Cody be. We didn’t pressure him to walk on a leash, to eat all of his food, or learn to sit. Cody had to become familiar with us, with the shelter, with his surroundings, with the smells, with the routine. Then slowly, as Cody started to show signs of relaxing, we began introducing new things such as the leash, or a new staff member, until finally, just two months later, Cody started acting like a happy dog!

Now came the toughest part. How do we introduce him to a new person, a new home, a new environment without triggering his fear? It would take someone special and someone patient, to be willing to work on the next big transition in his young life, moving to his furrever home.

When we met Alyssa, we knew it was the perfect fit. Alyssa’s adopted dog had lived a life similar to Cody’s, except here on a Native American Reservation. She knew the hard work that would be needed to make him feel safe and rebuild his broken trust. Luckily for Cody, as an island dog used to coexisting with many other unfamiliar dogs, having a canine companion to show him his new mom was all right and that her home was a safe place was exactly what Cody needed!

It hasn’t been long since Cody was adopted but his mom says they’re doing great. Cody’s easing into his new life well and his mom is giving him all the time and patience he needs to adjust. Knowing Cody is safe and loved is the happy ending we dreamed of for Cody the Potcake.