Tails from the Pug Hollow Horde: 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.