Pug Hollow Spotlight of the week: Portobello and Avocado Enchiladas

It's not a dog treat recipe, but sometimes humans need treats too!
This is a preview from Pug Hollow's upcoming "Treats from the Hollow" fundraising cookbook.

10 white corn tortillas
4 ripe but not overly soft avocados
4 large portobello mushroom caps
1 medium onion
1 medium bell pepper
2 cups pepper jack cheese: shredded
1 28 oz can green chili enchilada sauce
2 cups sour cream
1/4 cup fajita marinade
2 tbsp lime juice
Olive oil cooking spray
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder

Preheat oven to 375.

Chop avocado, onion, mushrooms and bell peppers. Combine lime juice and fajita marinade, and marinate chopped ingredients for 30 minutes.
Sautee marinated ingredients until onions, mushrooms and bell peppers are soft.
Lightly spray corn tortillas with olive oil, and heat in a skillet until tortillas are soft and translucent.

Place a portion of ingredient mixture slightly off center on the tortilla with some shredded cheese. Roll tortilla around the mixture an d place rolled side down in a 9X13 baking dish. Continue until baking dish is full.
Pour the can of green chili enchilada sauce over the rolled enchiladas.
Warm sour cream in the microwave until runny. Stir in garlic and onion powder. Pour over enchiladas. Top with any left over cheese.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Serve with your choice of Mexican side dishes.

Pug Hollow's Spotlight Dog of the Week: Bartholomew Cubbins

Cubby, sweater model for Pug Hollow Sanctuary's Fall catalog

There was a train stalled out on the railroad crossing that led to the tiny animal shelter. The woman had a long way to go, and a lot of things to do when she got there but she waited with the animal control officer until the train was repaired and the way was clear. Once the train was clear of the crossing, the pair hurried down the road to the shelter.

"He's really underweight, and he may be old. I haven't been able to get him out and really look at him because he bites." The ACO gestured to a kennel on the second tier. "Good luck."

The woman looked into the kennel at the chihuahua. He was so emaciated that every bone in his body was showing in high relief. She opened the cage, and held out her hands. "Oh, sweetie, are you ready to go home?"

Trembling with the effort of moving across the cage the tiny red dog staggered into her arms and laid his head on her shoulder. "Let's get you out of here, sweet pea."

She cuddled the dog with one hand as she signed the paperwork with the other. Then she took him out to her car. The little blue Scion was gone, blown away in a tornado, but the small white delivery van that had taken its place was ready to receive its canine cargo. Carefully settling the underweight bundle on a blanket laid over a piece of foam mattress pad, the woman made sure he was comfortable before shutting the door and getting in the driver's seat. As she pulled away from the shelter she picked up her phone. Concerned at the extremely wasted condition of the chihuahua she called her veterinarian.
"I'm concerned that we may be close to organ damage. If I bring him over can you work us in?"

Bartholomew Cubbins was more than 65% underweight when Pug Hollow rescued him from the animal shelter. He was literally only days away from dying. Luckily his organ function was not impaired. A gradual weight gain regimen of small meals spaced out over each day put flesh back on his frame at just the right rate.
Emotionally Cubby is one of the most resiliant dogs we've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Now that he's in a home where he's fed regularly and cuddled frequently, all is right with his world. He greets familiar faces and strangers alike with a bounce and a wiggle. Aside from being a bit thin, there is no sign that this little red dynamo of a chihuahua was ever neglected to the point of death.

Cubbins was named for the alter ego of 30 Seconds to Mars frontman, Jared Leto. The band motto "Prohevito in Altum" which can be translated as "Launch forth into the deep" or "Reach for the heights" seemed especially appropriate. Whatever his beginnings, Bartholomew Cubbins has launched himself into his new life with a verve and enthusiasm that we should all envy.

Bartholomew Cubbins the day he arrived in mid June, 2012

Bartholomew Cubbins, October 7th, 2012

Pug Hollow’s Spotlight Dog of the Week is Hugh Blackman.

 

It was December. The sun was setting over the narrow, tree lined gravel road, taking what little warmth the day had boasted with it. A small dark blue Scion left the paved highway and headed onto the deserted track, kicking up a cloud of dust to hang in the air. Far down the road, almost lost in the gloom under the close growing trees, a tiny light gleamed. It looked like the dome light of a car. Perhaps someone in need of a bathroom break was taking advantage of the remote location. Or perhaps they’d had some sort of car trouble. As the little Scion rolled closer, the vehicle’s dome light went off and the vehicle continued on down the road away from the Scion.

 A short distance later, and the driver of the Scion stomped on the brakes, bringing the car to an abrupt and slightly sliding stop. A woman in a skirt and boots jumped out. “Please don’t run. Please don’t run. I’m not going to hurt you, handsome. Come on. Let me take you home…”

She approached the little black pug who was alternating between looking at the newcomer and staring off down the road after the vehicle that had dropped him off. As she picked him up and cradled him she swore she could hear him mumbling. “But… but… that was my ride.”

 It was obvious he had been neglected, and that he had lived most, if not all of his life outside. Posters were posted. Ads were run. No one claimed the little black pug with the tongue lag, so an appointment was made with the vet. His age was determined to between 5 and 7, heartworm tests were run and found to be negative, vaccinations were given, and a growth on his testicles was biopsied and found to be benign. And so Hugh became a part of the Pug Hollow Horde.

 Two years later, and despite the trauma of surviving a tornado in 2011, Mr. Hugh has come a long way. No longer the scrawny, uncertain little pug, he has filled out and become more confident. His rough, faded coat is now sleek and blue-black. His tongue still lags, and he still won’t give kisses unless you surprise him. But he does sit in laps from time to time, and he likes to cuddle in bed or in the recliner. And most importantly he knows now that his ride left him behind so he could find his forever home at the Pug Hollow Sanctuary.