A COLLAPSIBLE CARDBOARD PET CARRIER
Building a cheap dog or cat transport device including diagrams and instructions.
May/June 1983
by Elaine Benson
In No. 52, THE MOTHER EARTH NEWS(R) published an article by Kansas veterinarian Randy Kidd about how to restrain a farm animal. Little did we (or Randy) know that this one piece would lead to many more ... yet very few subsequent issues of MOTHER haven't carried Dr. Kidd's words on some facet of livestock care.
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This article-marking the second installment of our new series on pet care (which ill usually feature Randy's work)-was prepared by a guest author ... and we think you'll find her idea is a good one.
Anyone who's ever tried to transport a sick or wounded animal in a small automobile can fully appreciate the usefulness of a pet carrier. However, because such a device is likely to be needed only infrequently, many folks are reluctant to acquire one (after all, the cages can be expensive to buy and bulky to store). Well, here's a solution to that problem! The carryall described be low can be disassembled and folded flat for easy storage, and is lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to build.
The "pet case" is constructed from the sort of cardboard that has a single layer of corrugation between two face veneers. (The best source of this material is probably a large, discarded box, such as those that major appliances are delivered in. This container will provide the flat side sheets you'll need to cut out the "pattern pieces" of your toter.)
The carrier is held together by ten 1-1/4"-Iong, two-pronged brass paper fasteners, which are available at office supply stores. Other necessary tools and materials include a utility razor-knife ... a pencil ... a ruler ... a 45' drafter's triangle ... a carpenter's square ... a sharp-pointed awl ... a blunt-pointed tool of some sort ... and white glue.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
To begin, draw each of the three illustrated pieces on the cardboard, enlisting the aid of the ruler, triangle, and carpenter's square where necessary. A solid line on the plan indicates a cut all the way through the cardboard (use your utility razor-knife). A dotted line, on the other hand, indicates a fold (just crease the line with a blunt-pointed tool until the cardboard folds easily along that mark).
When the cuts and creases are made, punch the holes—for the brass fasteners—using the sharp-pointed awl—on the end panel piece and the handle strip. (Delay making the holes in the side panel piece—as well as the handle cutouts—until after assembly of the structure. Your doing so will allow you to use the cutouts and fastener holes in the other pieces as positioning guides.)
