I have used this almost every weekday since we purchased more than 7 months ago to carry our dog on public transportation during rush hour. The carrier is very well made. It has piping around both ends that serves as a sort of skeleton or scaffolding so that carrier holds its shape and does not cave in when empty. Our dog can be placed into the carrier through the zippered opening at one end (the entire wall at one end zips open), or through the zippered opening at the top (an approximately 4 inch x 14+/- inch mesh window that is permanently sewn to one end and has a 2-way zipper around the remaining perimeter of that mesh window, allowing the the full length and width of the top to open. When unzipped, you can push that top opening wider because the carrier is made of 600-denier polyester, which is a canvas-like material). The handles are well padded, sturdy, and long enough to fit over my shoulder so that I rarely use the adjustable, removable, padded shoulder strap. After using this almost daily for for nearly 8 months; putting it down on train platforms, city sidewalks, train and bus floors, and tossing it in the back of the car if I drive to the train, it has stood up well and still looks great, although it has the following signs of wear: (i) Each end has a slip pocket with velcro tabs to close the pocket. The velcro tab on one pocket is very frayed, and the velcro tab on the other pocket has come off, but I open and close those pockets multiple times a day (bc that is where I store a roll of bags for waste, the leash, my wallet, phone, keys, and train ticket). (ii) A nylon (or possibly rubber?) piece is stitched over the entire outside bottom (i.e., the floor) of the carrier, for additional protection, I guess. That covering and the portion of the piping that runs along the bottom are torn in places; but I recently covered the bottom with black gorilla tape to prevent additional tears, and the tape is not noticeable unless the bag is turned upside down. I do wish that the carrier were an inch or two taller and/or longer so that my dog would be more comfortable when the mesh openings are zippered shut. When zippered shut, he can sit upright but has to tuck his head down. I sometimes partially unzip the top so that he can stick his head out and sit in his normal sitting position. He can lie down inside, although he has to curl up a bit. As noted above, the carrier stands up nicely when empty but is soft enough to give a little when our dog curls up to lie down inside. I also wish the carrier had optional backpack style straps so that I could distribute the weight over both shoulders. Our dog has an injury that prevents him from walking fast so I lug him about 1 mile each way to the train, and that gets heavy after a while, especially if I'm also carrying a briefcase. This probably should not be used as a kennel, because the features that make it a great carrier are features that are not good for a kennel; namely, it is narrow and the three mesh windows are located only at the top and at the top half of each end wall. Also, if you have to carry your pet a long distance while walking, then you might want a backpack style carrier instead, to distribute the weight over both shoulders. But if you want something that does not attract unwanted attention and are willing to carry the weight on one shoulder, this is the better choice. The only negative is the steep price, but I justified the expense bc I use it nearly every day. In short, this is a great carrier. I use it every weekday to transport our dog on public transportation at rush hour. This carrier does not look like a pet carrier and does not attract attention. Each of the mesh windows has a privacy flap, the carrier is sturdy but not bulky, and it is narrow enough and the handles are well padded so that it can be carried over your shoulder ( it weighs 2.9lbs). To give perspective, here are our dog's dimensions: Weight: 15+/- lbs. Length from base of tail to shoulders: 15 inches. Height to top of shoulders: 12 inches. Height to top of ears (he has upright ears) when sitting upright: 16 inches.
