Patent ID: 8651062

Claim:
A pet carrier for transporting a small, live pet animal comprising: a) a body defining a housing for the animal, the body comprising a substantially planar bottom portion connected to a substantially planar top portion by two side walls, a back wall, and a front wall, each of which are affixed at the periphery of said top and bottom portions and in a substantially perpendicular orientation thereto, wherein said top portion or said back wall comprises a first opening sized and shaped to permit movement of said animal into said carrier and one or more of said side walls, back wall or front wall comprises one or more slits or holes to allow for air circulation, b) a funnel comprising a first open end in fluid communication with a second open end through a neck portion, said first open end being larger in diameter than said second open end, said second open end being adapted for attachment to, and detachment from, said first opening of said body, and said funnel being sized to permit passage of said animal through said funnel and being oriented to convey said animal by gravity into said carrier when said second end of said funnel is attached to said first opening of said body; and (c) a detachable or slidable cover sized and shaped to reversibly close or seal the first opening of said body when said second end of said funnel is disengaged from said first opening of said body to prevent egress of the animal from the interior of the carrier, wherein said animal is at least the size of a cat or dog and said carrier is used for transporting said live pet animal by hand.