on the suckling of dogs in naples

Suckling Dogs.—" If the Neapolitans bury Protestant Christians like dogs, they make some singular compensations, we will confess, by nursing dogs like Christians. A very veracious man informed me yesterday, that his poor wife was half broken-hearted, at hearing such a.countess's dog was run over. 'For, (said he,) having suckled the pretty creature herself, she loved it like one of her children.' 1 bid him repeat the circumstance, that no mistake might be made: he did so; but seeing me look shocked, or ashamed, or something he did not like: 'Why, madam,' said the fellow, 'it is a common thing enough for ordinary men's wives to suckle the lap-dogs of ladies of quality:' adding, that they were paid for their milk, and he saw no harm in gratifying one's superiors. As I was disposed to see nothing but harm in disputing with such a competitor, our conference finished soon;but the fact is certain." (Piozzi's Tour, vol. ii. p. 57.)

--Excerpted in The Recreative review, or Eccentricities of Literature and Life, vol. 2 (London: J. Wallis, 1822), p. 518.  As to the comment about burying "Protestant Christians like dogs," this opinion betrays some British prejudice of the time, obviously, and is illuminated on p. 264: 

"Funereal rites have from time immemorial occupied the attention of mankind ; and this reminds us of the remark which foreigners make of the English, that all they think about, is that of being buried decently. There is some truth in it; but that luxury is denied to us abroad, particularly in Italy, where our heretical bones must not pollute those of catholics, (us Christians, as they call themselves,) but within twentyfour hours after a protestant's death, he is shovelled into a hole like a dog. Those, therefore, who travel, should make their last stage at Leghorn, where we have a churchyard of our own, and are not treated like brutes, after having spent our money among them like princes."