A puppy airlift from the Caribbean

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Todd Weller visited the sandy beaches and turquoise waters of the Caribbean last fall, intending to kick back and relax. But he returned to his Bay Area home with more than just the usual souvenirs.

A wiggling, 9-week-old puppy named Mardi made the trip with him. In bringing the animal back to the United States, Weller became part of an international puppy airlift, an ongoing rescue effort that transports homeless Caribbean island dogs to the United States and Canada. The mixed breed dogs are known as potcakes.

Read all about the puppy airlift program in the Times Travel section at latimes.com. At right, Judy Smith, a visitor to the Turks and Caicos Islands, bonds with a young potcake.