When 10-year-old blind pup Bill arrived at Vintage Pet Rescue, it quickly became clear that he had one big need: he always wanted to be held.
But with a full house of senior pets and chores to do, the rescue team couldn’t carry him around all day — no matter how much they wished they could.
That’s when they remembered their secret weapon: a life-sized human dummy named FARC.
Originally created to help another rescue dog with separation anxiety, FARC — short for “Fake Arm Rescue Companion” — was designed with love and a bit of creativity.
The idea first came from Kristen and Marc Peralta’s own experience with their pug, Shorty, who struggled whenever Marc was away.
Kristen’s mom, Joanne, had a clever solution: stuff one of Marc’s shirts and wrap it around a mannequin.
The result? Surprisingly comforting.
“At first we thought it’d just be a funny photo op,” Kristen Peralta told The Dodo. “But it worked. The dogs really take to him.”
Since then, FARC has become a trusted member of the team — always ready to offer endless cuddles to any dog in need.
And for Bill, who is especially anxious and dislikes being alone, FARC was the perfect companion when a human lap wasn’t available.
“We wish we could hold Bill every minute, but there’s always work to be done,” Peralta said. “FARC helps us give him that constant comfort.”
Thanks to FARC’s steady “arms,” Bill could finally relax. And now, after weeks of being soothed by his plastic pal, Bill has found his forever home — one where someone’s around to hold him as much as he wants.
To help more senior dogs like Bill get the love they deserve, consider supporting Vintage Pet Rescue here.
