Owner checks pet cam after her 1-year-old pup ‘texts’ her with four talking buttons — and the message leaves her in tears

Recently, dog mom, Meg Jarvis, checked her pet camera expecting to see her one-year-old pup, Ruby, napping or playing when she was away. Instead, she was met with something that left her in tears; her dog had somehow “texted” her using a set of talking buttons. The moment revealed a surprising depth of communication from Ruby, showing just how much rescue dogs can express their needs and emotions when given the right tools.

As reported by Newsweek on November 11, 2025, the Instagram clip shared under the handle @rubysaysso shows Ruby using four buttons on her speech board, part of a communication system designed for pets, to form the message “Help. Want. Mama. Kong.” Jarvis, 41, from London, Ontario, told the news channel that she is learning to understand Ruby’s way of communicating, while Ruby is learning how to use her buttons to “talk.” Ruby, a rescue from Wright Way Rescue in Chicago and adopted in March 2025, has been using the buttons since she was a puppy. What started as a simple training activity soon became a touching window into the thoughts and personality of an unusually expressive dog. Jarvis shared, “I can confidently say she presses buttons at least 30 times a day. She currently has 25 words, including ‘Daddy,’ ‘Mama,’ ‘Walk,’ ‘Bed,’ and her absolute favorite, ‘Kong.’”

The moment left Jarvis both amazed and heartbroken, as it was the first time her pup had ever used her buttons to try to reach out to her while she was alone. “My reaction was a mix of complete awe that she could communicate that clearly and overwhelming guilt that I wasn’t there for her.” Within the Alternative Interspecies Communication (AIC) community, such interactions are often viewed as part of a learning process, much like how toddlers begin to speak with a mix of clear words and playful noises, per the outlet. Ruby’s longer messages, which include sequences like “Help Mama Walk Bed Kong Later Bone Kong Dog park,” highlight her typical, goofy puppy energy. Jarvis added, “[She] sometimes just spams the board," but surely each message can be a peek into her thoughts.

For Jarvis, telling Ruby’s story goes beyond online attention and is her way of showing that rescue dogs can communicate and have their own voices, too. “I started @RubySaysSo to document our journey and connect with the AIC community,” she said. “But just as importantly, I wanted to show how special rescue dogs are.” The viral video posted on November 5, 2025, instantly reached more than 444K views online, as people reacted with amazement, laughter, and heartfelt comments celebrating Ruby’s unique personality. @v.o.2.max wrote, "I would show this to my boss and walk out the door immediately." @yeracheezardangela joked, "Maybe you have to stop working and cater to her forever." Meanwhile, @lapocahontas_x exclaimed, "Poor baby. You need to find a new job where you can bring her along."

For more heartwarming dog content, follow @rubysaysso on Instagram.