Snapped: A French Bulldog in Italy

Black as the devil, snors like a drunken sailor with a major sinus problem, ugly as the night and is addressed as "Ciao bello!" by most Italian women we cross in the streets.

"H", short for "Hercules", our two year old French Bulldog is generally considered to be "cute". I call him "Mr Ugly", or "Mr Pea". The kids hug him like a baby. Tine tolerates his snorring more than mine. He loves to be around us, cries like a baby when left alone in the house, and proud like a peacock (or something), when he takes a walk with us.
He is just a few inches tall, but has an attitude of a Dobermann, and the macho-ism of a young Italian. He is stubborn like a donkey, can play "pull my toy" for hours, jump on his four legs while turning on his own axis and still be clumpsy as a pup taking its first steps, can run on two legs and knows no fear. He often reminds me more of a cat than of a dog.

In short, "H", is part of our family. And he came with us to Italy.