Alright so today I finally decided to tackle the dog crate situation. My old one? Toast. Thanks to my genius pup thinking wires inside were chew toys. Ended up with bare wires sticking out everywhere, foam chunks decorating the living room – just a big safety hazard. Needed a new box, fast, but my wallet was crying after vet bills last month. “Cheap dog boxes near me” became my mission.
The Search Starts (And It’s Frustrating)
First stop? Grabbed my phone, opened the app store thing, typed in “pet store”. Hit the nearest big chain one supposedly having a sale. Drove over there ready to snag a deal. Parked, walked in, found the crate aisle. Felt hopeful for a second. Saw a basic plastic kennel. Checked the price tag. $100? For a plastic box?? Almost choked. That was the ‘budget’ option? Yeah, no. Walked right back out.
Plan B: The Usual Suspects (Online Edition)
Got home, grumbling. Fired up the computer. Thought maybe the online giant everyone uses would have cheaper deals with their fancy warehouses.
- Typed in “Large Dog Crate”. Hit enter. Dozens pop up.
- Clicked the “Low to High” sort button. Promising! Saw prices starting around $40.
- Clicked on the first cheap plastic one. Looks okay in the tiny picture. Then I saw it: “Usually ships within 1 to 2 months.” MONTHS? My dog was currently using the hallway as his personal den! Needed it now-ish, not next season.
- Scrolled some more. Anything remotely available soon jumped back over $70. Felt like hitting another dead end.
Scrolling Marketplace Blues
Okay, time to get local and used. Pulled out my phone again, opened the social media marketplace thingy everyone sells junk on.
- Typed “dog crate”. Tons popped up! Cool!
- Got excited seeing $20 ones. Started scrolling… Picture shows a massive dent in the top. Scrolled… Next one looks like it lost a fight with a lawnmower. Scrolled… Another one, door is literally bent open. Useless. One lady wanted like $75 for a rusty old metal thing that looked haunted. Felt dodgy, like sorting through scrap metal. Passed.
Getting Creative: Outside the Box Thinking (Literally)
Honestly, I was getting pretty annoyed. Needed a safe space for my dog, ASAP, without robbing a bank. Looked around my own house. The living room floor still had foam bits mocking me. Then it hit me:
- The “Trash Bin” Gambit (Temporary): Went out to the garage. We have one of those massive plastic storage bins, empty. Washed it out, laid it on its side. Threw a blanket inside. Instant (ugly) den! Dog sniffed it, actually went in, chilled for a nap. Perfectly safe, zero cost, and he liked it! Not pretty, and clearly temporary, but it WORKED until I found real deal.
- The Thrift Store Treasure Hunt: Dropped by that giant charity thrift shop everyone knows near the highway. Wandered past clothes mountains and weird lamps… Found the pet section! Mostly old leashes. Almost gave up. THEN! Spotted it in the corner. A hard plastic airline crate. Size was perfect. Sticker said $25. Heart raced. Checked the door latch (worked!), hinges (good!), wires inside (ALL INTACT!). Minor scuffs, nothing deep. Smelled like clean laundry detergent. Winner! Paid cash and carried out my budget victory!
Mission Accomplished (On The Cheap!)
So yeah, found a cheap dog box “near me” eventually. Took some legwork, multiple failed attempts, and serious creative thinking. That plastic bin was an ugly lifesaver for a couple nights. The real winner was the thrift shop find – $25 for solid plastic crate, no missing parts, works perfectly. Dog loves it (well, tolerates it when he has to go in). Proves you don’t always need shiny new from the expensive pet store. Sometimes digging around (in real life!) pays off. Bin washed out and back in garage duty. Thrift crate is firmly installed. Dog’s happy? Great. Wallet’s happier. Done.
