Homemade Pet Pens

A pet pen provides your pet the opportunity to play outside in a secure environment.

A pet pen is a way to allow your furry friend the chance to enjoy the outdoors without running away, and can be made rather than buying an expensive pen at a pet store. A homemade pet pen gives you the freedom to customize the size of the pen, and is adjustable if you decide to add more pets. In addition to outdoor fun, a pet pen also protects your pet from other outdoor animals by creating a barrier between them.

Things You'll Need

• Garden gloves
• Shovel
• 4 anchoring pegs
• 4 metal posts
• 5-foot to 6-foot high wire mesh
• Rope

Instructions

1. Put on garden gloves to protect your hands while setting up the pet pen.

2. Dig a 5-inch hole in the ground where the metal post will be, and insert the a metal peg into the ground. Pack the soil around the peg, and insert four metal posts firmly into the pegs to create a rectangular or square space.

3. Dig at least 8 inches into the ground where the wire mesh will be placed. Push the wire mesh into the ground, and tie the mesh tightly to the metal posts with the rope. Pack the soil around the wire mesh to secure the pen's wall.

4. Place the pet's food and water bowl in the pen to keep the pet from becoming hungry and dehydrated while outside. Bring the food and water back inside after the pet is finished playing to prevent attracting squirrels, raccoons and other wild animals.

Tips & Warnings

• Repel flies from the outside of the pet pen by planting mint around the pen, according to the Reader's Digest Association.

References

• "1001 Hints & Tips for Your Garden"; Reader's Digest Association; 1996