PET CARRYING BACKPACK

1 . (canceled)

2 . A pet-carrying backpack, comprising:

a backpack body defining an interior compartment configured to support a pet therein;

a collar defining a top opening of the backpack body and configured to allow a head of the pet to protrude through the top opening;

one or more pet limb openings positioned below the collar and configured to allow at least one paw or leg of the pet to extend outward;

shoulder straps coupled to the backpack body;

a first attachment interface disposed on an exterior of the backpack body; and

a removable auxiliary bag comprising a second attachment interface configured to releasably couple to the first attachment interface to retain the removable auxiliary bag on the exterior of the backpack body,

wherein the first attachment interface and the second attachment interface comprise mating clip components.

3 . The pet-carrying backpack of claim 2 , wherein the removable auxiliary bag is positioned on a rear panel of the backpack body when coupled to the backpack body.

4 . The pet-carrying backpack of claim 2 , wherein the mating clip components comprise clips disposed on side panels of the backpack body and configured to releasably attach the removable auxiliary bag to the side panels.

5 . The pet-carrying backpack of claim 2 , wherein the backpack body comprises a webbed side panel extending from a top portion to a bottom panel to provide ventilation, and a mesh pocket over the webbed side panel.

6 . The pet-carrying backpack of claim 2 , further comprising contouring clips attached to contouring straps that extend across a front zipper to contour the backpack body around pets of different sizes.

7 . The pet-carrying backpack of claim 2 , further comprising an interior attachment ring disposed within the interior compartment and configured to couple to a collar or harness of the pet.

8 . The pet-carrying backpack of claim 2 , wherein the backpack body is configured to support the pet in a front-facing orientation relative to a wearer.

9 . A pet-carrying backpack, comprising:

a backpack body defining an interior compartment;

a collar defining a top opening configured to allow a head of a pet to protrude through the top opening;

at least one second opening positioned below the collar and configured to accommodate a portion of the pet;

a rear panel opening providing access to the interior compartment;

a zipper extending along the rear panel opening in a generally vertical direction;

at least one contouring strap disposed on an exterior of the backpack body and arranged to extend across at least a portion of the rear panel opening when the rear panel opening is closed, the at least one contouring strap being adjustable to alter a fit of the backpack body about the pet; and

shoulder straps coupled to the backpack body.

10 . The pet-carrying backpack of claim 9 , wherein the at least one second opening comprises a slit extending generally vertically across a front portion of the backpack body.

11 . The pet-carrying backpack of claim 9 , wherein the collar comprises an adjustable strap configured to conform about an upper body region of the pet.

12 . The pet-carrying backpack of claim 9 , wherein the at least one second opening comprises two paw holes disposed below the collar and above the shoulder straps.

13 . The pet-carrying backpack of claim 9 , wherein the at least one contouring strap comprises a first contouring strap and a second contouring strap spaced from the first contouring strap along a height of the backpack body.

14 . The pet-carrying backpack of claim 9 , further comprising vent structures on opposing side portions of the backpack body, the vent structures comprising a webbed material.

15 . The pet-carrying backpack of claim 14 , further comprising at least one side pocket disposed over at least a portion of the webbed material, the at least one side pocket including a mesh portion permitting airflow through the webbed material into the interior compartment.

16 . A method of transporting a pet using a pet-carrying backpack, the method comprising:

placing the pet into an interior compartment of a backpack body of the pet-carrying backpack;

positioning a head of the pet through a collar-defined top opening;

positioning at least one paw or leg of the pet through one or more limb openings located beneath the collar;

tightening an adjustable strap associated with the collar to conform the collar about an upper body region of the pet; and

coupling a collar or harness of the pet to an attachment ring disposed in the interior compartment.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising closing a rear panel opening by zipping a generally vertical zipper to restrict egress of the pet from the interior compartment.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising adjusting at least one contouring strap disposed on an exterior of the backpack body to shape the interior compartment around the pet.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein adjusting the at least one contouring strap comprises tightening a contouring strap that crosses over the generally vertical zipper.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising attaching a removable auxiliary bag to an exterior of the backpack body using mating clip components.

21 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising maintaining airflow through a webbed side panel into the interior compartment while a side pocket positioned over the webbed side panel provides storage.