I don’t think that some of our dogs realize that they are pets. They may have felt so loved by the family that they believe they’re just like any member. So when their family members go away for an extended period of time, these pets get separation anxiety.
This 15-year-old Pug named Shorty in Rhode Island is one of the fortunately well-loved pets that experience separation anxiety. He cries and barks every single time his owner has to leave him at home. According to Marc Peralta, Shorty’s owner, the Pug started acting this way when he was old enough to travel with Marc. Marc’s wife, Kristen, adds that this may be because their relationship is very special and that Shorty is happiest when he is with Marc.
The Peralta’s have had Shorty for 11 years already. He even goes with Marc on business trips until it became hard to take the Pug along. Since Marc couldn’t take Shorty anymore, the Pug would bak and cry nonstop when he gets left behind.
Kristen tried to act like Marc’s substitute to calm the dog down, but Shorty continues to cry even in her comfortable arms. Next, she dressed a pillow in Marc’s t-shirt, but the scent still can’t coax the anxious dog.
Just as Kristen had run out of ideas, a brilliant solution was given by her mom: create a fake Marc! The fur mom ordered a life-sized mannequin and created Farc (short for Fake Marc). She dressed Farc in Marc’s clothes and even added Marc’s little details to make Farc more realistic; she added tattoo sleeves on Farc since Marc has arm tattoos.
The Pug’s reaction to Farc was incredible. Kristen narrated that as soon as she placed Shorty on the dummy’s lap and wrapped his arms around him, he calmed down. The dog then snuggled into Farc and fell asleep in less than an hour!
In the Peralta house, Shorty isn’t the only one benefitting this winning idea. Since Kristen and Marc also run a senior dog shelter called Vintage Pet Rescue, 34 elderly dogs also cuddle with Farc when Marc is away.
Source: vintage_pet_rescue via Instagram
