--- title: "Buster's Big Mixed-Up Rescue" description: "Buster, an overly enthusiastic puppy, finds hamsters waiting in a high fish tank. His first rescue plans make a mess, so the pet shop animals have to combine their strengths." tags: ["Funny Stories", "teamwork", "kindergarteners", "early-readers", "funny", "talking-animals", "read-aloud", "rainy-day", "Buster", "Teamwork", "ChildrenStory", "BedtimeStory"] language: en source: "Stories for Kids" url: https://www.stories4kids.net/stories/funny-stories/buster-s-big-mixed-up-rescue/ --- # Buster's Big Mixed-Up Rescue _A Story About Teamwork_ Buster, an overly enthusiastic puppy, finds hamsters waiting in a high fish tank. His first rescue plans make a mess, so the pet shop animals have to combine their strengths. Category: Funny Stories Topics: Funny Stories, Teamwork, Kindergarteners, Early Readers, Funny, Talking Animals, Read Aloud, Rainy Day, Buster, Teamwork, Children Story, Bedtime Story ## Story Buster's eyes popped open before the sun even thought about rising. - TODAY IS GOING TO BE AMAZING! he barked, launching himself from his bed like a cannonball. His tail spun like a helicopter blade. His paws skittered across the floor of Patches Pet Shop, where nothing ever stayed in the right place. Fish swam in the rabbit hutch. Parrots perched in hamster tubes. Guinea pigs snuggled in bird nests. And Buster loved every bonkers bit of it. - WHO WANTS BREAKFAST? WHO WANTS TO PLAY? WHO WANTS TO- - Buster, groaned Penelope the parrot from inside a cat carrier, - some of us are trying to sleep. - BUT SLEEPING IS SO BORING! HOW CAN YOU SLEEP WHEN THERE IS RUNNING AND JUMPING AND- - HEEEELP! The tiny squeak made Buster's ears shoot straight up. ![Buster's Big Mixed-Up Rescue - Four hamsters waiting high in glass fish tank](../../../assets/stories/funny-stories/buster-s-big-mixed-up-rescue-1.jpg) *Four hamsters waiting high in glass fish tank.* Chester the hamster pressed his pink nose against the glass walls of the tallest fish tank in the shop. Three other hamsters huddled behind him, squeaking nervously. The tank sat on a shelf so high it nearly touched the ceiling. - We came up to see the sunrise, Chester called down, his voice shaking. - But our ladder tipped over! We are waiting up here! Far below, a small wooden ladder lay sideways on the floor. Buster's chest puffed out like a balloon. - DO NOT WORRY! SUPER BUSTER IS HERE! He charged at the shelf, his claws clicking rapidly on the tile floor. He jumped, scrambling against the smooth wood with all four paws. He scooted exactly four inches before sliding back down with a squeaky sound. His tail wagged even faster. - NO PROBLEM! I WILL JUST JUMP HIGHER! Buster backed up ten steps. His bottom wiggled as he prepared for the most spectacular jump ever. He launched himself into the air and, BONK, smacked his head on the second shelf, still seven feet below the hamsters. Stars twinkled in his vision. Real ones? Probably not. But they sure looked sparkly. ![Buster's Big Mixed-Up Rescue - Buster jumping and bonking his head on shelf](../../../assets/stories/funny-stories/buster-s-big-mixed-up-rescue-2.jpg) *Buster jumping and bonking his head on shelf.* - Buster, maybe you should- Penelope started. - I HAVE GOT IT! Buster interrupted, already zooming toward the storage corner. He grabbed the biggest bag of dog food in his teeth, a bag so heavy it made his neck muscles quiver, and dragged it across the floor. His back paws slipped. His tongue flopped out. Kibble shifted inside the bag with loud crunchy sounds. Finally, he wrestled it beneath the shelf. - I WILL BUILD A TOWER! He scrambled onto the bag, which squished under his weight like a lumpy pillow. Even standing on his tippy-toes, stretching his neck until it hurt, Buster was still five feet too short. - Just a little higher! he panted, trying to squish the bag into a taller shape. But dog food does not squish up. It squishes OUT. The bag split with a loud RIIIIIP. Kibble scattered everywhere like crunchy brown fireworks. Buster tumbled backward, landing in a pile of scattered food. Above him, the hamsters' squeaks grew more frightened. Around him, the shop looked like a tornado had visited. Food covered everything. The ladder still lay useless on its side. And Buster's tail, for the first time in his entire enthusiastic life, stopped wagging completely. He sat in the middle of the mess, his ears drooping so low they touched the kibble. - I cannot do it, he whispered. ![Buster's Big Mixed-Up Rescue - Buster sitting sadly surrounded by mess while others gather](../../../assets/stories/funny-stories/buster-s-big-mixed-up-rescue-3.jpg) *Buster sitting sadly surrounded by mess while others gather.* The other pets had been watching quietly. Now Penelope hopped out of the cat carrier and waddled over, her clawed feet clicking. - Of course you cannot, she said. Buster's ears drooped even lower. - But that is okay, Penelope continued, tilting her head. - Because friends can help with big jobs. - What? Buster looked up, confused. - You have been trying to be a one-puppy rescue team, Penelope explained. - But look around, silly. This shop is full of friends. From the guinea pig nest, Gilbert squeaked up. - I am small, and I can balance on narrow steps! From the rabbit hutch, Shelly the turtle spoke in her slow, steady voice. - I may be slow, but I am incredibly strong. From the corner, Rosie the rabbit twitched her nose. - And I am excellent at figuring things out. What do we need? Buster sat up straighter. His tail gave one small, hopeful wag. - You would all help me? - That is what friends do, Penelope said. - Now, let us think TOGETHER. Everyone looked around the mixed-up shop. Buster's eyes grew enormous, but this time it was thoughtful excitement. It was a real, actual idea. - The rolling ladder! he yelped. - The tall one Patches uses for the top shelves! It is in the back room! - Perfect! Rosie's ears perked up. - But it is extra heavy. - Too heavy for one puppy, Shelly agreed. - But maybe not for all of us working together. Buster jumped up, then stopped himself. Instead of zooming off by himself like always, he looked at each of his friends. - Will you help me get it? Everyone nodded. ![Buster's Big Mixed-Up Rescue - All animals working together pushing the big ladder](../../../assets/stories/funny-stories/buster-s-big-mixed-up-rescue-4.jpg) *All animals working together pushing the big ladder.* Together, they headed to the back room. The ladder stood in the corner, tall, sturdy, and incredibly heavy. Buster grabbed one side with his teeth. Gilbert pushed from the bottom with his tiny paws. Shelly wedged herself underneath to lift with her strong shell. Penelope pulled from the top with her powerful beak. Rosie used her muscular back legs to shove. - On three! Buster said through clenched teeth. - One, two, THREE! The ladder scraped across the floor with a loud screech. Inch by inch, it moved. It was not fast. It was not easy. Buster's paws slipped twice, but Shelly steadied him with her shell. Gilbert got tired, but Penelope squawked encouragement. - Keep going! We are almost there! Slowly, steadily, working together, they pushed the ladder across the shop floor, through the kibble mess, and finally, THUNK, against the shelf holding the hamsters' tank. - We did it! Buster's tail wagged so hard his whole body wiggled. - Not yet, Rosie reminded him gently. - Someone still needs to guide them down. Everyone looked at Gilbert. - I am on it! The guinea pig scurried up the ladder rungs with careful speed, his tiny claws gripping each step perfectly. When Gilbert reached the top, he called into the tank. - Okay, Chester! Step onto my back! I will help you reach the ladder! One by one, the hamsters scrambled out of the tank, down Gilbert's back, and onto the ladder rungs. Chester came last, his little paws shaking as he stepped onto the first rung. - You can do this, Chester! Buster called up. - We are all right here! Chester stepped down, down, down, until finally his paws touched the solid floor. He immediately scurried to Buster and threw his tiny arms around the puppy's paw. - You saved us! - WE saved you, Buster corrected, looking at Penelope, Gilbert, Shelly, and Rosie. - All of us, together! ![Buster's Big Mixed-Up Rescue - Animals dancing and celebrating in the mixed-up shop](../../../assets/stories/funny-stories/buster-s-big-mixed-up-rescue-5.jpg) *Animals dancing and celebrating in the mixed-up shop.* The celebration began. Penelope squawked a joyful song that sounded like a car alarm having the best day ever. Gilbert did a happy dance that was mostly enthusiastic wiggling. Shelly did the fastest spin anyone had ever seen a turtle do. It took about thirty seconds, but was impressive. Rosie thumped her feet in a happy rhythm that made the floor vibrate. The four hamsters formed a conga line, weaving between everyone's legs. And Buster? Buster's tail wagged so hard he accidentally knocked over three empty water bowls, which clattered and rolled and made everyone laugh even harder. The mixed-up pet shop rang with barks and squeaks and chirps and thumps: the glorious sound of friends who had worked together and won. When Patches arrived that morning, she found all the animals curled up together in Buster's big bed. A puppy, a parrot, a turtle, a guinea pig, a rabbit, and four hamsters, all snoring softly in a warm, fuzzy pile. The tall ladder stood proudly beside the shelf. Scattered kibble covered the floor like confetti from the world's silliest party. Patches smiled and whispered, - Good morning, my little heroes. ![Buster's Big Mixed-Up Rescue - All animals sleeping peacefully together in Buster's bed](../../../assets/stories/funny-stories/buster-s-big-mixed-up-rescue-6.jpg) *All animals sleeping peacefully together in Buster's bed.* In his sleep, Buster's tail gave one gentle wag. He was dreaming of his friends, and of all the amazing adventures they would share, step by careful step, with everyone right beside him.