Dog Names Meaning Loved by God

Friar Bigoton (Friar Moustache) is a small terrier dog who was found as a stray by the monks at St Francis Monastery in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The Franciscan order has always been considered the patron of animals. This is one of the many reasons why the small stray pooch was so readily welcomed by the monks. They quickly extended a helping hand to the down-on-his-luck canine who had been living on the streets, barely surviving, for months. 

The small Friar Bigoton's hard life as a stray is over now that he has a home at the St Francis Monastery. Fellow friar Jorge Fernandez was interviewed by the Dodo and said,  “His life is all about playing and running. Here, all of the brothers love him very much. He is a creature of God.”

The small pooch even gets to wear a real habit just like his fellow monks. The monks at the monastery occasionally snap pictures of the pooch taking care of the fish in the church's pond. Franciscan Kasper Mariusz Kapron posted three photos of the tiny dog tending the fish and captioned them,  “[Here’s] Brother Carmelo preaching to the fish.” 

Currently, not all monasteries welcome dogs into the fold. Proyecto Narices Frais (Cold Nose Project) posted on Facebook: “If only all the churches of our country [would] adopt a dog and care for him like Friar Bigotón. We are sure that the parishioners would follow his example.”

Photos of the small terrier mix wearing a brown habit have gone viral. Fans just can't get enough of the diminutive dog. His habit is a doggy-sized reproduction of the official Order of Friars Minor, a Roman Catholic order commonly known as the Franciscans. Most pictures of the pooch show the dog's easy-going lifestyle among the monks. He appears to make the rounds of the monastery where he gets ample cuddles and love from the monks throughout the day. One of the dog's main activities that he likes to do is peer into the koi pond at the large, brightly-colored fish. 

At first, not all of the monks at the monastery were in favor of the adopting the pooch. Even now, many still frown upon the small dog, but the pooch appears to win hearts wherever he goes. Friar Bigoton (Friar Moustache) will undoubtedly have a long and happy life with his monk owners. Perhaps in time, the pooch's happy nature will inspire other monasteries to take in canines. The Buddhist monks of Tibet have a long history of being home to the Lhasa Apso.