{"id":9290,"date":"2017-03-08T16:48:56","date_gmt":"2017-03-08T16:48:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/freeonlinetranslators.net\/news\/english\/bolivian-monastery-accepts-four-legged-friar\/"},"modified":"2017-03-08T16:48:56","modified_gmt":"2017-03-08T16:48:56","slug":"bolivian-monastery-accepts-four-legged-friar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freeonlinetranslators.net\/news\/english\/bolivian-monastery-accepts-four-legged-friar\/","title":{"rendered":"Bolivian monastery accepts four-legged friar"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"FriarImage copyright Kasper Mariusz Kapron Ofm
Image caption Social media users in Bolivia nicknamed the dog Friar Moustache on account of his facial fur <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Bolivian monasteries accept new members, they do not usually cause an online sensation.<\/p>\n

But Friar Carmelo, nicknamed Friar Moustache, is unlike any resident the Franciscan monastery of Cochabamba has seen before. <\/p>\n

For a start, he has four legs.<\/p>\n

Friar Carmelo is a schnauzer. A small dog adopted by the monks four months ago, he was photographed roaming the cloisters dressed in a traditional habit. <\/p>\n

Since then the images, taken by a visitor, have been shared thousands of times.<\/p>\n

Image copyright Kasper Mariusz Kapron Ofm
Image caption Friar Carmelo preaches to the fishes <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

"Sometimes we brothers have a laugh among ourselves and there is a brother here that is also called Carmelo, who has a moustache, so that was sort of the inspiration [behind his name]," one of the friars told local television channel ATB.<\/p>\n

They decided to extend the joke by dressing him up. <\/p>\n

"We had some puppets in the church that we used to amuse children, and one of puppets was wearing a habit, so we thought we'd use it," said the friar. <\/p>\n

However, the friars have stressed that dressing up animals is not a common monastic practice, after being inundated with calls and requests for visits. <\/p>\n

Image copyright Kasper Mariusz Kapron Ofm
Image caption The friars have warmly welcomed their new companion <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Friar Carmelo remains a much-loved resident, although the friars have described him as having a naughty streak. <\/p>\n

He is known to bite everything and hide things in the garden, but he has also quickly become a loyal companion to the monastery's residents, who say he has brought them lots of joy.<\/p>\n

Image copyright Kasper Mariusz Kapron Ofm
Image caption The former stray has found new friends among the monastery's 18 residents <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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