Every year, police services and emergency communications centres across Canada issue reminders about what 911 is meant for. Fires. Medical emergencies. Crimes in progress. Situations where seconds matter and someone’s safety is genuinely at risk.
And every year, Canadians continue to test the boundaries of that definition.
Throughout 2025, RCMP detachments, municipal police services, and emergency call centres released examples of non-emergency 911 calls as part of their year-end public education efforts. These summaries are not intended to embarrass callers, but to highlight how often emergency lines are used for issues that do not require an emergency response.
Some of the calls released last year were baffling. Others were unintentionally funny. All of them required dispatchers to remain calm, professional, and patient.
In one case, a caller contacted emergency services to report that their cat was being mean. The animal was not injured, trapped, or attacking anyone. It was simply behaving badly. Dispatchers explained that police do not intervene in disputes involving household pets. The cat was not charged.
Another caller dialed 911 after discovering they had run out of toilet paper. Police later reminded the public that while stressful, a lack of bathroom supplies does not constitute an emergency.
Food-related disputes featured prominently in 2025’s summaries. In Saskatchewan, someone called 911 because a friend cooked their pork chop without permission. The pork chop was already cooked by the time police were contacted. Dispatchers confirmed there is no Criminal Code offence related to unauthorized pork preparation.
In British Columbia, a parent contacted police because their child was making pancakes late at night. Officers clarified that cooking breakfast foods outside socially accepted hours is legal across Canada.
Household frustrations also made their way to emergency lines. Emergency operators received a call from someone seeking help fixing a broken dishwasher. There was no flooding, no electrical hazard, and no immediate danger. Dispatchers suggested contacting an appliance repair service.
Another caller reported a family member’s snoring as a police matter. Dispatchers acknowledged the frustration but explained that loud sleeping noises are not a crime.
Some calls initially sounded serious. Police responded to reports of screaming coming from a residence, only to discover the noise was caused by someone enthusiastically cleaning their shower with a squeegee. No injuries were reported.
Drivers also raised concerns that turned out to be less urgent than expected. Police received reports of a suspicious vehicle operated by someone wearing a white sheet and sunglasses. It was not Halloween. Officers advised the driver that while ghost-themed commuting is not illegal, it is discouraged for safety reasons.
In another incident, a business owner contacted police after items went missing from a vending machine. Investigation revealed the culprit was an employee’s dog. No charges were laid.
Workplace grievances appeared as well. A caller contacted police after a coworker ate food from a shared refrigerator. Dispatchers explained that while irritating, lunch theft disputes do not require emergency response.
Seasonal frustrations also surfaced. A resident called emergency services because their car doors were frozen shut during winter conditions. Dispatchers suggested patience and common winter remedies.
Another caller dialed 911 to report a home internet outage. Dispatchers confirmed that internet service disruptions do not qualify as emergencies. A separate call involved a missing television remote, which did not prompt police action.
Even predictable celebrations generated emergency calls. Multiple callers contacted police to report fireworks on Canada Day. Officers reminded the public that fireworks on July 1 are expected and permitted in many communities.
Police agencies say the reason these examples are shared publicly each year is practical, not punitive. Emergency dispatch centres handle every call in real time, and non-emergency complaints are answered on the same lines used for fires, medical emergencies, collisions, and violent incidents.
According to police, even brief or quickly resolved calls can delay response times when dispatchers are managing multiple incidents at once. That is why agencies continue to urge the public to reserve 911 for situations involving immediate danger to life, health, or property.nature. Police note, however, that the emergency system is not designed to resolve everyday disputes or household inconveniences.
Police say keeping 911 lines clear helps ensure faster response times for those who need emergency assistance.
