A pet carrier includes a bottom panel having a pair of end edges and a pair of side edges that are longer than the end edges, a pair of side panels attached to the side edges of the bottom panel, a pair of end panels attached to the end edges of the bottom panel, and a top panel. The bottom panel, the side panels, the end panels, and the top panel enclose an interior area for carrying a pet when the pet carrier is in a closed configuration. One of the side panels is an openable side panel structured to fold downward and form a flush surface with the bottom panel when the pet carrier is in an open configuration.