Whatever kind of pet or animal you own, there will eventually be a time when you need to transport your pet from one place to another. Whether it's because you are moving, visiting family out of town, or for an emergency visit to the vet, the why, where, and what will all play a role in the type of pet carrier you choose to use.

There is a pet carrier for every personality type, from the mundanely generic to the intricately fancy designed for comfort and fashion. The carrier that will fit both your needs as well as your desires will depend on the kind of animal you own, whether you are looking to simply transport or take your pet for a walk out to the park, and the comfort level that your pet has become accustomed to or the level of comfort you wish to provide for it.

How you view your pets will also influence your decision making process. Do you treat your pets like children, or just convenient companions? Each of these points will affect your decision as to the type of carrier you choose. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a pet carrier:

Obviously a large dog will need a bigger carrier than a cat, while birds will have completely different requirements than their four-legged, landlubber friends. Speaking of landlubbers, any water-based pets will have clearly unique requirements.

If you are just making a quick trip to the vet for booster shots or to have Buster's strange-sounding cough checked out, then something elaborate probably isn't going to be necessary or wanted. On the other hand, if you're planning on using it to take your pet on long walks, something larger with an open top or with windows, allowing your pet to see out and is also easy to move about (turning a generic pet carrier into more of a carriage), will make your pet more comfortable and will be easier on you.

If you have show animals and spend a lot of time driving cross country, a pet carrier with built-in feeders would be appropriate as your animals will be in the carrier for extended lengths of time. Again, for a simple trip to the local vet might only require something very basic. If you are flying your pet, consider the comfort of your pet and provide for the needs of your pet on a lengthy, lonely (and probably loud) flight.

Specialized car seats for animals are available to help keep your pet safe on long car trips while a carriage-style carrier might be more appropriate for a visit to the park. Bicycle trailers are also available for those times you want to get in a good bike ride, but Killer gets a little over stressed when left home alone.

Pets who have grown up doing a lot of traveling will probably feel comfortable in pretty much any size or type of carrier. However, if you're pet has become accustomed to a high-class lifestyle, then consider looking in to something that will provide her with as much comfort as possible to help reduce stress during the trip. Your pet's condition of health will directly affect their comfort levels as well, so remember to keep that in mind if you have older pets with arthritis, are recovering from recent injury or surgery, or any other condition.

Your own convenience and the level to which you are willing to pamper your pet are often overlooked, but are very serious considerations nonetheless. A few pet owners see their pets as little more than dumb animals. But it could arguably be safe to say that the majority of pet owners love their pets nearly or even to the same level as human-to-human affection.

The pet carrier you choose could be said to express the level of care and love you have for your animal as it expresses the extent to which are willing to go to provide your pet with the highest level of comfort that is reasonably possible. Some would even argue that your pet has the same inherent rights as humans to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. As pet owners, we play a large role in that pursuit.

In the end, your pet will probably be fine in just about any type of pet carrier. The decision will often come down to what is most convenient for you. But unless you want a cat or dog on your hands that is out for vengeance, you won't want dismiss your pet's needs altogether either.