DUBAI: This story puts the adage about the dog being man’s best friend to a whole new level.

A Franciscan Monastery in Cochabamba, Bolivia has taken in a stray schnauzer and bathed, clothed, even christened him Friar Bigotón, for his “bigote” or huge moustache, such that he now is family.

“Brother Mustache” was also given his own tiny habit. “His life is all about playing and running,” friar Jorge Fernandez told The Dodo, a portal for animal people that posts emotionally and visually compelling, highly sharable animal-related stories

“Here, all of the brothers love him very much. He is a creature of God.”

“Friar Bigotón’s new life isn’t all fun and games, though. As evident in a series of photos posted to Facebook, he takes his religious duties—like “preaching to the fish,” patrolling the grounds, and keeping his robe neat and tidy—very seriously,” according to the article.

The report said Friar Bigotón’s lifesaving adoption was facilitated by Proyecto Narices Frias (“The Cold Nose Project”), a local animal rescue organization.

Both Proyecto Narices Frias and the Cochabamba monastery hope that the heartwarming tale of the little dog’s new life will inspire other compassionate religious groups to follow in their footsteps.

“If only all the churches of our country adopt a dog and care for him like Friar Bigotón,” The Dodo quoted the organization as saying in its Facebook post, “we are sure that the parishioners would follow his example.” (All images via Kasper Mariusz Kaproń Ofm.)