# I'd Like To Buy A Pet, Please

An episode of [Animal Tales: The Kids' Story Podcast](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1644596989), 28 Jun 2026, 17 min.

Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72631823/at508_idliketobuyapetplease_mixdown.mp3

A new employee at a pet shop finds herself serving a guinea pig. Written especially for this podcast by Simon. If you enjoyed this story, please do leave us a review. And, if you'd like to suggest an animal for a future Animal Tales story, you can do so by emailing podcast@animaltales.uk. We would love to hear from you. Animal Tales Books! Collections of Animal Tales children’s stories are available to buy exclusively at Amazon. Simply search for Animal Tales Short Stories or follow this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CLJQZ9C9?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_sirpi Become a PREMIUM Subscriber You can now enjoy Animal Tales by becoming a Premium Subscriber. This gets you: • All episodes in our catalogue advert-free • Bonus Premium-only episodes (one per week) which will never be used on the main podcast • We guarantee to use one of your animal suggestions in a story You can sign up through Apple Podcasts or through Supercast and there are both monthly and yearly plans available. Discover a brand new story every Monday, Wednesday and Friday – just for you! You can find more Animal Tales at www.animaltales.uk A Note About The Adverts In order to allow us to make these stories we offer a premium subscription and run adverts. The adverts are not chosen by us, but played automatically depending on the platform you listen through (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc) and the country you live in. The adverts may even be different if you listen to the story twice. We have had a handful of instances where an advert has played that is not suitable for a family audience, despite the podcast clearly being labelled for children. If you’re concerned about an advert you hear, please contact the platform you are listening to directly. Spotify, in particular, has proven problematic in the past, for both inappropriate adverts and the volume at which the adverts play. If you find this happening, please let Spotify know via their Facebook customer care page. As creators, we want your child’s experience to be a pleasurable one. Running adverts is necessary to allow us to operate, but please do consider the premium subscription service as an alternative – it’s advert free.

## Transcript

[0:12] Speaker 1: Hey, yeah, hello. My name's Josephine and this is the
[0:17] Speaker 1: Animal Tales podcast, where you suggest the animals featured in
[0:21] Speaker 1: our stories. There are new tales to enjoy every Monday
[0:25] Speaker 1: and Wednesday, with a third premium only story every Friday.
[0:30] Speaker 1: To learn more about Animal Tales, please visit our new
[0:34] Speaker 1: website at Animaltales dot uk, where you can now find
[0:38] Speaker 1: stories more easily by animal type. Sophie is from Canberra
[0:44] Speaker 1: in Australia and she would like a story with a
[0:47] Speaker 1: guinea pig, a rabbit, a cat and a dog. You
[0:52] Speaker 1: can learn more about these creatures in the animal facts
[0:55] Speaker 1: after the story. Okay, are you ready? That's good, then
[1:00] Speaker 1: I'll begin. I'd like to buy a pet please. Sophie
[1:07] Speaker 1: had got herself a Saturday job. There was a small
[1:11] Speaker 1: pet shop near to where she lived, and Sophie had
[1:14] Speaker 1: been lucky enough to spot the small hand written notice
[1:17] Speaker 1: in the window as she was passing. She'd gone straight
[1:21] Speaker 1: in with a big smile and was hired there and
[1:24] Speaker 1: then Sophie began her new job the very next Saturday.
[1:30] Speaker 1: The morning was pleasingly busy and involved her stacking shelves,
[1:34] Speaker 1: sweeping the floor, and generally helping to keep the place
[1:38] Speaker 1: neat and tidy. After lunch, the owner of the shop
[1:43] Speaker 1: taught Sophie how to take payments behind the counter, meaning
[1:47] Speaker 1: Sophie was soon selling cat food, dog toys, and the
[1:51] Speaker 1: occasional goldfish. By late afternoon, though the pet shop had
[1:56] Speaker 1: become very quiet and there wasn't much to do, the
[2:00] Speaker 1: owner announced that she was heading out back to do
[2:02] Speaker 1: some paperwork, leaving Sophie in charge behind the counter. This
[2:08] Speaker 1: made Sophie feel very important. She realized that the owner
[2:12] Speaker 1: must think she was doing a good job to trust
[2:15] Speaker 1: her like this. She was just straightening out the displays
[2:19] Speaker 1: on the countertop when she heard a polite cough. On
[2:23] Speaker 1: the floor before the counter was a guinea pig, looking
[2:27] Speaker 1: up at her. Good afternoon, said the guinea pig politely.
[2:34] Speaker 1: Er Hi replied Sophie. She couldn't be certain, but she
[2:39] Speaker 1: was reasonably sure that this wasn't normal. I'd like to
[2:43] Speaker 1: buy a pet, please, said the guinea pig. You do,
[2:48] Speaker 1: asked Sophie in surprise. Is that a problem, asked the
[2:53] Speaker 1: guinea pig, sounding unsure. I mean this is a pet shop.
[2:58] Speaker 1: It is where people come to buy a pet. No, no,
[3:02] Speaker 1: it's not a problem. Replied Sophie, it's just that well.
[3:08] Speaker 1: She wanted to say that she thought it unusual to
[3:11] Speaker 1: be serving a guinea pig, but thought better of it.
[3:15] Speaker 1: I'm new, she blurted out. At last, this is my
[3:18] Speaker 1: first day. I'm still getting used to things. So I
[3:24] Speaker 1: can buy a pet, then, can, I asked the guinea pig. Well, uh,
[3:29] Speaker 1: I suppose, so, shrugged Sophie. What sort of pet did
[3:33] Speaker 1: you have in mind? A rabbit, please, said the guinea pig,
[3:38] Speaker 1: the black one with the twitchy nose. Sophie came out
[3:43] Speaker 1: from behind the counter, crossed to the rabbit pen, and
[3:47] Speaker 1: gently lifted out the rabbit. Should I put her in
[3:50] Speaker 1: a pet carrier for you, Sophie asked, gesturing to one
[3:54] Speaker 1: of the cardboard boxes with a carrying handle. No, no,
[3:59] Speaker 1: smiled the guinea pig. You can just put her down
[4:02] Speaker 1: next to me. Sophie did just that. Now, how would
[4:08] Speaker 1: you like to pay? She asked, remembering the words she
[4:12] Speaker 1: was supposed to ask each customer. Card or cash? Oh,
[4:18] Speaker 1: cash please, said the guinea pig, and held up a coin.
[4:23] Speaker 1: It wasn't a big coin, and it wasn't nearly enough
[4:26] Speaker 1: to buy a rabbit, judging from the cobweb dangling from it.
[4:30] Speaker 1: The coin had been found someplace dusty, where someone had
[4:34] Speaker 1: dropped it. Oh, said Sophie, not sure what to do.
[4:40] Speaker 1: I'm afraid you're going to need more than that. If
[4:43] Speaker 1: you want to buy a rabbit, I can go and
[4:46] Speaker 1: look for another coin, suggested the guinea pig, hopefully. I
[4:51] Speaker 1: still don't think that will be enough, said Sophie. I'm
[4:55] Speaker 1: ever so sorry. The guinea pig gave a big sigh
[4:59] Speaker 1: and sag forward. Oh whiskers, he said, looking disappointed. Sophie
[5:07] Speaker 1: couldn't help but feel extremely sorry for him. She had
[5:11] Speaker 1: imagined that working in a pet shop would be about
[5:13] Speaker 1: putting smiles on the customer's faces, and yet here she was,
[5:18] Speaker 1: on her very first day with a sad one look.
[5:23] Speaker 1: She found herself saying, why don't I lend you the money?
[5:27] Speaker 1: Then you can pay me back later. The guinea pig's
[5:31] Speaker 1: eyes brightened. You'd really do that, he smiled. Of course,
[5:38] Speaker 1: said Sophie. I have a Saturday job now, so I
[5:41] Speaker 1: can afford it. Then it's a deal, grinned the guinea
[5:46] Speaker 1: pig broadly as he turned to the black bunny. Oh wow,
[5:50] Speaker 1: look at me, I'm a pet owner. I now have
[5:54] Speaker 1: my very own rabbit. Can I get you anything else
[5:58] Speaker 1: while you're here? Sophie asked, no, not for me, nodded
[6:03] Speaker 1: the guinea pig happily. I've got everything I need. Glad
[6:08] Speaker 1: to hear it, smiled Sophie. In return, Um, can I
[6:14] Speaker 1: have something? Asked the black rabbit. This was unexpected, okay,
[6:21] Speaker 1: said Sophie. How can I help. I'd like to buy
[6:25] Speaker 1: a pet, please, said the rabbit. Oh, said Sophie. She
[6:31] Speaker 1: wanted to point out that pets didn't normally own a pet,
[6:35] Speaker 1: but Sophie believed in fairness. There wasn't any rule, not
[6:40] Speaker 1: that she knew of, that said that this couldn't be done.
[6:44] Speaker 1: What kind of pet were you thinking of, she said?
[6:48] Speaker 1: A cat, please, said the rabbit, the white one with
[6:52] Speaker 1: the green eyes. Sophie came out from behind the counter,
[6:57] Speaker 1: crossed to where the kittens were kept, and gently lifted
[7:01] Speaker 1: out the young cat. Would you like a pet, carrier,
[7:05] Speaker 1: offered Sophie. I don't think so, grinned the rabbit next
[7:10] Speaker 1: to me. You will be just fine. Sophie gently placed
[7:15] Speaker 1: the cat on the floor. There was now a guinea pig,
[7:18] Speaker 1: a rabbit, and a cat, all in a row before
[7:22] Speaker 1: the counter. How would you like to pay, Sophie asked,
[7:27] Speaker 1: card or cash? Can I use a carrot? Asked the rabbit.
[7:33] Speaker 1: A carrot, repeated Sophie. I don't think so. Normally, it's
[7:39] Speaker 1: some kind of payment card or banknotes and coins? Do
[7:43] Speaker 1: you have anything like that? How about two carrots, suggested
[7:48] Speaker 1: the rabbit. It's a lot, I know, but I'd be
[7:52] Speaker 1: willing to give you two for this lovely fluffy kitty. Unfortunately,
[7:58] Speaker 1: even two carrots isn't enough for a cat, explained Sophie.
[8:03] Speaker 1: I'm really sorry. The rabbit gave a big sigh, her
[8:08] Speaker 1: ears flopping downwards. Oh whiskers, she said, looking full of disappointment.
[8:16] Speaker 1: Sophie's heart went out to the saddened rabbit. How could
[8:20] Speaker 1: it be right for the guinea pig to be allowed
[8:22] Speaker 1: a pet but not the rabbit. That wasn't fair at all.
[8:28] Speaker 1: How about this, she found herself, saying, what if I
[8:32] Speaker 1: lend you the money and you pay me back when
[8:35] Speaker 1: you can. The rabbit's ears shot upwards. That's very kind
[8:41] Speaker 1: of you, she said. I'm happy to help, said Sophie.
[8:46] Speaker 1: My Saturday job means I have a little extra money,
[8:49] Speaker 1: so I can afford to help you too. Thank you
[8:52] Speaker 1: so much, grinned the rabbit broadly as she turned to
[8:56] Speaker 1: the white kitten. This is just great. Who would have
[9:00] Speaker 1: thought I'm a pet owner? I now have my very
[9:04] Speaker 1: own cat. I'm pleased that you're pleased, said Sophie with
[9:09] Speaker 1: a smile. Now can I get you anything else while
[9:13] Speaker 1: you're here? No, thank you, replied the rabbit. Happily, this
[9:18] Speaker 1: is all I need. Very good, nodded Sophie. Excuse me,
[9:25] Speaker 1: said the white cat. May I have something you want
[9:30] Speaker 1: something as well, asked the astonished Sophie. Okay, how can
[9:36] Speaker 1: I help you exactly? I'd like to buy a pet, please,
[9:40] Speaker 1: said the cat. I had a feeling you were going
[9:44] Speaker 1: to say that, said Sophie. And what kind of pet
[9:48] Speaker 1: were you thinking? Of? A dog? Please, said the cat,
[9:53] Speaker 1: the spotty one with the waggy tail. Once again, Sophie
[9:59] Speaker 1: came out from behind the counter, this time crossing to
[10:02] Speaker 1: the puppies, where she selected the spotty one. It did
[10:06] Speaker 1: indeed have a waggy tail. I'm going to guess that
[10:10] Speaker 1: you don't want a pet, carrier, suggested Sophie. That's right,
[10:15] Speaker 1: nodded the cat. Pop her down beside me. That will
[10:19] Speaker 1: be fine. Sophie set the dog down carefully as instructed.
[10:25] Speaker 1: There was now a guinea pig, a rabbit, a cat,
[10:28] Speaker 1: and a dog all lined up before the counter. I'm
[10:33] Speaker 1: going to have to ask, Sophie said slowly, how would
[10:37] Speaker 1: you like to pay cash or card? I have no idea,
[10:43] Speaker 1: answered the cat. Honestly, I'm not even sure I know
[10:47] Speaker 1: what those things are. Well, that's fair enough, acknowledged Sophie.
[10:54] Speaker 1: But I can't just give you a dog. She has
[10:56] Speaker 1: to be paid for somehow. Oh whiskers, said the cat.
[11:03] Speaker 1: Could you pay for my dog and I pay you
[11:05] Speaker 1: back like you did for the rabbit. That seemed to work,
[11:08] Speaker 1: didn't it. Well? I guess so, said Sophie reluctantly. I'm
[11:15] Speaker 1: not getting paid all that much for my Saturday job,
[11:18] Speaker 1: but it should stretch to paying for a dog as well. Okay,
[11:22] Speaker 1: let's do that. Oh how wonderful, purred the cat. I'm
[11:29] Speaker 1: a pet owner. I've gone and got myself my very
[11:32] Speaker 1: own dog. I'm just happy that we were able to
[11:36] Speaker 1: work something out, smiled Sophie. Now I have to ask,
[11:41] Speaker 1: is there anything else I can get you while you're here?
[11:45] Speaker 1: I'm quite happy with just my dog. Thank you, replied
[11:48] Speaker 1: the cat. I don't need another thing. Then we're all done,
[11:54] Speaker 1: said Sophie. What about me, asked the spotty dog. Do
[12:00] Speaker 1: I get a go? Sophie realized that she should have
[12:04] Speaker 1: seen this coming, of course, she said, how can I
[12:09] Speaker 1: help you? I'd like to buy a pet, please, said
[12:13] Speaker 1: the dog, her tail wagging excitedly. Of course you do,
[12:19] Speaker 1: nodded Sophie. And what sort of pet did you have
[12:22] Speaker 1: in mind? A guinea pig, please, said the dog, A
[12:27] Speaker 1: brown and white one that makes squeaky noises. Then you're
[12:32] Speaker 1: in luck, said Sophie as she set off across the store.
[12:37] Speaker 1: We've only got one guinea pig, and it looks exactly
[12:40] Speaker 1: like that. But when she arrived at the guinea pig's cage,
[12:45] Speaker 1: she found the door wide open. She returned to the
[12:49] Speaker 1: animal line up to gaze down at the guinea pig
[12:52] Speaker 1: who had started all this. Ah, said Sophie, I think
[12:58] Speaker 1: I can see what's happened here, ye, well, asked the dog.
[13:04] Speaker 1: Can I buy him? Sophie rubbed her chin. I guess
[13:09] Speaker 1: you can, she said. I mean, strictly speaking, he does
[13:14] Speaker 1: belong to the pet shop and he is for sale,
[13:17] Speaker 1: so yes, I suppose you can. Oh goody, smiled the dog,
[13:23] Speaker 1: her tail thumping against the floor. Would I be right
[13:27] Speaker 1: in thinking, said Sophie. That you also don't have a
[13:31] Speaker 1: card or cash to pay for your pet. I could
[13:35] Speaker 1: give you a lick, offered the dog. I've got lots
[13:39] Speaker 1: of those to spare. Oh well, said Sophie, I've paid
[13:44] Speaker 1: for everything else. I suppose I ought to pay for
[13:47] Speaker 1: you too. In all honesty, she wasn't sure her wages
[13:52] Speaker 1: were stretched to paying for all four animals, but she
[13:56] Speaker 1: was sure she could work something out. But you've got
[13:59] Speaker 1: to pay me back, she insisted. Oh I will, I will,
[14:05] Speaker 1: agreed the spotty dog. I can't believe I'm a pet owner.
[14:09] Speaker 1: I have my very own guinea pig. I must ask
[14:14] Speaker 1: before we finish, said Sophie to the dog. Is there
[14:18] Speaker 1: anything else I can get you? Nope, replied the dog.
[14:23] Speaker 1: I'm quite happy. Sophie half expected one of the animals
[14:28] Speaker 1: to speak, but nobody did. The guinea pig stood next
[14:33] Speaker 1: to his rabbit, while the rabbit stood next to her cat.
[14:37] Speaker 1: The cat stood beside his dog, and the dog looked
[14:40] Speaker 1: across at her guinea pig. So now what do we do?
[14:46] Speaker 1: Asked the guinea pig. Well, normally you'd go home with
[14:51] Speaker 1: your new pet, said Sophie. But we don't have a home,
[14:56] Speaker 1: said the rabbit. We live in the pet shop. Not anymore,
[15:02] Speaker 1: said Sophie. You've been sold, oh, said the cat. From
[15:08] Speaker 1: What are we supposed to do? This was puzzling, thought Sophie.
[15:14] Speaker 1: Four animals, all bought and paid for, but with no
[15:17] Speaker 1: home to go to, You know, she said, at last,
[15:23] Speaker 1: until you pay me back. It's my money that's paid
[15:27] Speaker 1: for you all. I guess that means you're all coming
[15:31] Speaker 1: home with me. Animals. Fat guinea pigs have an unusual
[15:40] Speaker 1: arrangement of toes. They have four on each of their
[15:44] Speaker 1: front feet, but just three on each of their back feet.
[15:48] Speaker 1: When happy rabbits can purr, they make the sound by
[15:52] Speaker 1: gently chattering their teeth together. Cats make far more sounds
[15:57] Speaker 1: than you might realize. We've documented over one hundred distinct
[16:02] Speaker 1: noises a cat makes to communicate how it's feeling. Likewise,
[16:08] Speaker 1: dogs can display over a hundred facial expressions to show
[16:12] Speaker 1: how they're feeling too. Thank you for your suggestions, Sophie.
[16:17] Speaker 1: We hope you enjoyed the story, and thank you to
[16:19] Speaker 1: all of you across the world. For listening to it.
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[16:36] Speaker 1: animaltales dot uk and remember, for a tiny fee, all
[16:41] Speaker 1: the stories are advert free. Join us next time for
[16:45] Speaker 1: another great animal tale. Good Bye,

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