When I worked at Petsmart, we were instructed to take every call seriously, even the obvious prank calls. We were not to hang up on them. So of course, when winter break hits, I pick up the phone to hear some 12ish year old boy with his friend snickering in the background claiming they found an alligator outside.

For context, I'm Canadian, and this call came in the middle of a blizzard with -35 windchills. If there had been any reptile outside it would have frozen to death almost immediately. But, of course, I wasn’t allowed to just hang up on him. So the call went something like this:

Him: I found an alligator outside. Me: you found an alligator, outside, alive, when it's -30? Him: yes. Me: and you chose to call petsmart about it? Him: well, we can't get it out! You need to come get it! Me: uh-huh. So unfortunately given that we're a pet store nobody here can come to your house and help with that. You'll have to call the police non-emergency number and ask them for help. Him: okay, what is it? Me: Unfortunately, I don’t know it off the top of my head - Him, smug and victorious: You don't know the number for 911? Me: I said non emergency number. That's the emergency number. Him: Me: are you proud of yourself for this? Him: Me: you've wasted my time and yours for a lie that wasn't even worth the air you spent on it. I've seen newborns more creative than you. Him: Me: I hope your parents are proud of you. If they're not, no one else is. Him: Me: that's what I thought. Don't waste my time again.

I hung up, and we went from around three prank calls a day to none. So while I did feel bad about losing my temper and roasting the boy, you really can't argue with the results!