Florence is not just a world-class tourist destination because of its art and history.  It’s also just home to some of us and the neighborhoods (called Quartieres) each have their own personality and identity accompanied by a strong sense of community.   Our neighborhood is Porta Romana and we all love the spring street fair that closes our main road to traffic and gets all of our merchants to open their doors on a Sunday.  This year, the local pet spa (Piero Toilette) sponsored a Dog Show, complete with red carpet rolled out right in the middle of a normally very busy street.

Archibaldo Opens the Porta Romana Dog Show, April 2016                                        

The judges are all local children who take their jobs seriously but still mange to delight in seeing the entries strut by.

Judges at the Porta Romana Dog Show, April 2016                                                       

The crowd gathers quickly once the show begins and the laughter is contagious as one precious pet after another walks the runway as their names are called.  The names are of great interest and amusement to all of us, especially since most of them seem to capture perfectly the spirit of their owners.

Marcantonio with his three handlers at the Porta Romana Dog Show, April 2016                                            

The sweetness emanating from these humans and their pets is simply heart-warming and even the most grumbly or disinterested passer-by is captured and won over by the flood of good cheer surrounding the event.  The parents are proud, the kids are delighted and the pets are doing what they do best….just being themselves.

Big Moment, Porta Romana Dog Show, April 2016                                                       

Some dogs are wayward, some march down the red carpet as if they were born to do so, others are impossibly drawn to any hand outstretched with a promise of a head pat…….

Portia’s Moment at the Porta Romana Dog Show,
April 2016

Chihuahua & Jack Russell Going Rogue at the Porta Romana Dog Show, April 2016                                      

but they each remind us of how much they have to offer in the way of companionship and unconditional love.   What a great afternoon!

Oliver the noble Rhodesian Ridgeback, Porta Romana Dog Show, April 2016

Therapy Dogs at the Porta Romana Dog Show, April 2016