Schnauzer joins monastery (picture: Kasper Mariusz Kaproń)

A moment of respect and appreciation, please, for Carmelo the schnauzer.

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While he was once just a strap pup, he’s now found a life as a monk at a St Francis Monastery in Cochabamba, Bolivia. And that’s something to be applauded.

Carmelo’s journey to the monastery began on the streets, where he was rescued by local monks.

Their monastery is named after St Francis, the patron of animals, so – of course – they had to help out a pup in need.


Schnauzer joins monastery (picture: Proyecto Narices Frías )

Once he was rescued from a rough life on his own, Carmelo was brought into the monastery and welcomed into the fold.



The monks named him Friar Bigotón (meaning Friar Moustache) and gave him his very own habit.

Now, Friar Bigotón spends his days preaching to fish in the monastery’s pond and playing with the monks.

Schnauzer joins monastery (picture: Proyecto Narices Frías )

‘His life is all about playing and running,’ friar Jorge Fernandez told The Dodo. ‘Here, all of the brothers love him very much. He is a creature of God.’

The monks hope that Carmelo’s story will inspire other monasteries to open their doors to pets in need of homes, and they’re working with local animal rescue group Proyecto Narices Frías to spread the message.

Schnauzer joins monastery (picture: Proyecto Narices Frías )

‘Let us introduce Friar Bigotón, who’s part of the monastery in San Francisco Cochabamba Bolivia,’ wrote the rescue group on Facebook.

‘If all the churches of our country adopted just one dog and cared for it like Friar Bigotón, we are sure that the parishioners would follow his excellent example.’

Schnauzer joins monastery (picture: Proyecto Narices Frías )

Agreed. Can all churches and monasteries adopt their own resident pooch now, please? It’s very important.

(Picture: Proyecto Narices Frías ) (Picture: Proyecto Narices Frías ) (Picture: Proyecto Narices Frías ) (Picture: Proyecto Narices Frías ) (Picture: Proyecto Narices Frías ) (Picture: Proyecto Narices Frías ) (Picture: Proyecto Narices Frías ) (Picture: Proyecto Narices Frías ) (Picture: Proyecto Narices Frías ) (Picture: Proyecto Narices Frías ) (Picture: Proyecto Narices Frías ) (Picture: Proyecto Narices Frías )

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