Your Dog is Missing? Change Your Voicemail Today!

picture of cell phone with voicemail icon

We just wanted to take a quick moment to remind you of the importance of changing your voicemail and answering machine messages if your dog goes missing. We know this is something that a lot of dog owners overlook, but it’s really important to let people know that your dog is missing so that they can help you find them.

Because most people cannot always answer their phone, it is important for you to realize that your recorded greeting is what will make a first impression on someone who is trying to share information about your lost pet when you are not available to take a call. If your message does not indicate that your dog is lost and you are trying to recover your pet, but are simply unable to answer the phone at that exact moment, the caller may decide you don’t really want your dog back. Or the person may think you don’t deserve to get your dog back since you didn’t have a moment to pick up the phone.

Right or wrong, people can be justifiably or unduly judgmental. So it’s vital that your message communicate that your dog is currently missing, you are eager to have your pet returned to you because you love and care for him or her, and that you will respond to any caller who leaves a message for you as quickly as possible.

Here’s a few tips for writing a good voicemail message when your dog is missing:

  • Be clear and concise. State that your dog is missing and give a brief description of them.
  • Include your contact information. Let people know how they can reach you if they have any information about your dog.
  • Be positive and hopeful. Thank people for their help and let them know that you’re grateful for any information they can provide.

“Wait! Please don’t hang up! I have a lost dog. If you are calling because you think you saw my dog, please leave a message. I’ll return your call as soon as I possibly can. Thank you for your help!”

Look at it this way. If one of your family members was missing, any caller could be trying to contact you to share information necessary for your loved one to make it back home. And since many of us view our pets as children, the circumstances are very similar, meaning every caller could provide information that helps you get your dog back.

It is important that you change your voicemail and answering machine greetings to messages that will encourage, not dissuade people to leave messages for you. Simply changing your messages can be the difference between someone choosing to leave a helpful message for you or not. It could mean the difference between your dog being returned to you or not.

To create your free flyer and social media links to help you generate sightings of your missing dog please file a report with our partner, Pet FBI at www.petfbi.org.  One of our volunteers will post your dog’s listing to the appropriate state or provincial page. 

5-18-2023