WASHINGTON 鈥� If you’re choosing a kennel for your pet, asking the right questions and comparison shopping聽 can save a lot of money.
, boarding a medium-sized dog for a week can cost between $147 and $455 鈥� and that doesn’t even count extras.
“Some of these kennels charge $3 a pill to administer a pill, or $10 to $12 a day for extra attention or extra exercise,” says Checkbook executive editor聽Kevin Brasler.
Before deciding whether a particular kennel is right for your pet, you might want to request a look around.聽Key questions to consider are, “Do they have enough space? Does it pass the sniff test?鈥�
The smell test question is more than a metaphor.聽If the kennel聽keeping a lot of dogs, it might smell a little bit.聽鈥淏ut it shouldn鈥檛 smell overly bad,鈥� Brasler聽says. 鈥淚t should be clean.”
Animals should be well contained. This not only prevents them from escaping, but keeps them from harming each other, Brasler says.
If you’re not a fan of kennels, consider hiring a professional. Pet sitters who care for pets in your home can cost two or three times what a kennel charges, but it still might be a good deal.
“A lot of these pet sitters don’t charge per pet; they charge per day,鈥� Brasler says. 鈥淭he kennels charge per pet.”
