Here are some of the quirkiest 3-1-1 calls made in Vancouver last year

“Can you keep a camel in Vancouver, if only for its milk?”

Vancouver’s 3-1-1 contact centre received 505,307 calls last year, and some were a little more…memorable than others.

In an information bulletin released on January 8, the city revealed several of the more interesting inquiries fielded through the centre in 2020.

One call asked, “Can you remove a dog from my bedroom? A friend left it, but I don’t know who.” Animal Services was dispatched to handle the issue.

“There are some trees in your open data set incorrectly listed as apple trees. I’ve been eating the fruit and they are definitely not apples,” inquired another.

The centre’s citizen service representatives (CSRs) were unfortunately unable to confirm what exactly the caller had eaten.

“I heard we’re allowed to dump one mattress and one piece of furniture in a back alley each year. Can we?” A confused Vancouverite asked. The city notes that dumping items in back alleys is illegal any time of year.

The most frequent (and less thrilling) 3-1-1 calls relate to property tax, empty homes tax, and homeowner grants, according to the bulletin.

The 3-1-1 contact centre is open from 7am to 10pm every day of the year, with interpretation service available in 240 languages.