"Bobby" The Pup That Went Viral Greeted With Cheers At New Job

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MIAMI (CBSMiami)- He was the dog that nobody wanted. Abandoned by his owners, and left in a pet shelter for months.

A loneliness he will likely never know again.

Bobby, the Christmas sweater-wearing shelter dog whose picture went viral, showing his dejected expression, head hanging low. He now has a new mom, Paola Mariaca.

He also has a new, red sweater, and a clean bill of health.

"His blood test revealed no abnormalities," said Sunset Pet Hospital veterinarian Dr. Ricardo Caballero.

"I'm very happy that he's safe. He's going to be well taken care of," Mariaca told CBS4's Natalia Zea, while petting Bobby.

What Bobby didn't know is that Mariaca also has a new job for him.

A job that puts this once sad, solitary creature in the hands of dozens of doting dog lovers.

Related: Abandoned Pup That Went Viral Now Has New Home

Mariaca began a pet therapy program at the Ponce Plaza Nursing Center, and the newest addition to her family is fitting right in during Thursday's visit.

"I think he's enjoying every second of it," laughed Mariaca.

One of the nursing center residents, Maucha Gutierrez said of Bobby, "I like him very much. He's a very nice dog, a very nice dog."

It was an unlikely future for Bobby, who like so many other large dogs sat confined to a kennel.

That sad sweater picture and thousands of social media users sharing his story, likely saved this pup's life, and has given him the chance to make so many other lives a little bit better.

To learn more about pet adoption click here for Miami-Dade County or here for Broward County.