Welcome to the Forum! You'll find many friendly faces here and hope you will post your furbabies picture, too.
The snorting can be from the trachea problem and it is recommended that you not use a collar because the Maltese trachea is soft and can be collapsed permanently. Use a halter. It has a ring on the back for tags and leash connections and is especially good if you have to suddenly pull your Maltese out of danger or unwelcome situations because it only puts pressure on the torso and not the neck.
Pico also snorts (to my intense humor) when he is excited about being outside and has barked in response to barking he hears or is ticked because some cats had been in his territory. His snort definitely is a nose snort, though and is just hilarious. It will be accompanied by low whuffs and growls making him sound like a terror.
I am so glad you read up on the Hollybelle situation. It's been a few weeks since I checked updates but there was talk about fostering those dogs and pups. Fostering puppymill breeding pairs is waaaay different, I hear, from fostering other types. Those who volunteer for this are angels on earth. I had to settle for sending a monetary donation.