YHZ to YYZ
Halifax to Toronto Pet Relocation
Moving to Toronto from Halifax? We book your pet's flight to Pearson, collect them at airport cargo when they land and bring them to your new home anywhere in Toronto and the GTA.
Bringing your pet home to Toronto
Flying is the quickest way to get a pet from Halifax to Toronto: about 2 to 2.5 hours in the air. Your pet travels as airline cargo in an approved crate, and we take over as soon as they land at Pearson.
You can fly on the same day or on a different day from your pet. Some owners fly first and send their pet a day or two later, so the new home is ready. You or someone you trust drops your pet off at YHZ cargo, and we look after everything in Toronto.
We choose the flight and the timing that are easiest on your pet. Every booking depends on airline space, the time of year and the breed rules, so we confirm the flight with the airline before anything is final.
Quick facts
- Airports
- Halifax YHZ to Toronto YYZ
- Airlines
- WestJet Cargo and Air Canada Cargo
- Flight time
- About 2 to 2.5 hours (scheduled)
- Check-in
- At YHZ cargo, about 3 hours before the flight
- Pickup
- About 1.5 hours after landing on WestJet, about 3 hours on Air Canada
- December
- Holiday embargo by air, very limited space
- Taxes
- Plus applicable taxes, based on where the move ends
Your price
What your Halifax to Toronto price includes
Your price depends on your pet's size (it sets the crate size, and the airline charges by crate size or weight), your address in the Toronto area, and the extras you choose. Fill in the form and you see your exact price in about three minutes, plus applicable taxes, with a list of what is included.
Included
- Pickup at Pearson cargo when your pet lands
- Delivery to your new home in Toronto or the GTA
- Airline cargo booking, with all airline fees
- Flight tracking and updates until your pet is home
Extras
- Airline crate in the right size, ready to fly
- More than one pet: each pet flies in its own crate unless two small pets can share
Step by step
How it works on this route
- 1
Get your price
Fill in the form with your pet's size and your dates, and you see your exact price in about three minutes.
- 2
Crate
We confirm the crate size. Use your own airline crate, or ask us about getting one to you in Halifax.
- 3
Flight booked
We book the cargo space to Pearson and send you the drop-off details.
- 4
Drop-off at YHZ
You or someone you trust drops your pet at YHZ cargo about 3 hours before the flight.
- 5
Home in Toronto
We collect your pet at Pearson cargo when they land and bring them to your new home.
Airline rules that matter on this route
- Health certificate: Air Canada needs one for every pet, WestJet for some pets. We tell you which applies and by when. See vet health certificate for flying.
- December and winter: holiday embargoes limit space in late December, and some aircraft take no pets in the coldest months. See winter and holiday embargoes.
- Breeds: snub-nosed and strong breeds have extra airline rules, and pit bull type dogs cannot travel through Pearson. See snub-nosed breeds and flying.
- Pickup on time: we collect your pet at Pearson cargo as soon as it is ready, well within the airline's 4-hour limit.
More questions? See the FAQ and our guides to WestJet pet cargo and Air Canada pet cargo.
Local guide: Halifax
Leaving Halifax with your pet
Weather and the best time to move
Halifax has milder winters than most of Canada because of the ocean, but they bring a mix of snow, rain and freezing temperatures, usually between minus 15 and plus 5°C. Summers are usually 20 to 25°C, and sea fog can roll in during late spring and summer. Tropical storms and their remnants can bring heavy rain and strong wind from August to October.
June and September are the easiest months, with comfortable temperatures and lower storm risk, while winter storms from January to March and storm remnants from August to October can be the hardest.
Dropping off at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
Cargo businesses are based in Goffs, near the airport, on Barnes Drive, Bell Boulevard and Pratt & Whitney Drive. Pets are handed in at the airline's cargo office, not at the passenger terminal. From downtown Halifax to the airport is about 35 km by Highway 102, roughly 30 to 40 minutes, so leave extra time on the day.
Getting your pet to the airport
You or someone you trust brings your pet to the cargo office at the drop-off time we give you, with the crate ready and the paperwork in hand. We send you the address, the opening hours and a checklist before the day.
Before you leave Halifax
If your pet has a licence in Halifax, let the licensing office know you are moving, and update the address on your pet's microchip record.
Ask your vet in Halifax for a copy of your pet's records to bring to a new vet in Toronto. If your pet needs a health certificate for the flight, book that visit early: we tell you the date it must be done by.
One last walk? The paved Chain of Lakes Trail, from Joseph Howe Drive out toward Lakeside, is a popular on-leash walk with lake views.
Dates to plan around in Halifax
- July 1: Canada Day fireworks over Halifax Harbour. The 10 p.m. fireworks over the harbour are loud across Halifax and Dartmouth, so keep pets inside.
- Early August: Natal Day harbour fireworks. Another big fireworks night over the harbour during the Natal Day long weekend, with busy waterfront traffic.
- August to October: Peak season for tropical storms and storm remnants. Heavy rain, strong wind and coastal flooding can delay travel, so keep move dates flexible.
- January to March: Winter storms. Snow, freezing rain and wind can close roads and slow airport pickups.
Delivery areas in Toronto
We deliver anywhere in Toronto, including Downtown, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York, York, and across the GTA: Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill. We also cover Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Caledon, King, Aurora, Newmarket, Whitchurch-Stouffville and nearby towns. The form shows the price for your address.
Settling in Toronto
- Toronto summers are hot and humid and winters bring snow and road salt. Wipe paws after winter walks.
- The City of Toronto requires a licence for dogs and cats. Mississauga, Brampton and the other GTA cities have their own rules.
- Renting in Ontario: a lease cannot ban pets, and landlords cannot charge a pet deposit. A landlord can still apply to evict if a pet causes real problems, or if condo rules ban pets.
- Book a visit with a new vet in the first few weeks and bring your pet's records.
Halifax to Toronto: questions
How much does it cost to ship a pet from Halifax to Toronto?
How long is the flight from Halifax to Toronto?
Who picks up my pet in Toronto?
When is the best time to fly a pet from Halifax?
Where do I drop off my pet at Halifax Stanfield International Airport?
Get your Halifax to Toronto price
Takes about three minutes, and you see your price on screen.