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Pet Valet

YQT to YYZ

Thunder Bay to Toronto Pet Relocation

Moving to Toronto from Thunder Bay? 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.

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Toronto skyline

Bringing your pet home to Toronto

Flying is the quickest way to get a pet from Thunder Bay to Toronto: about 1 hour 45 minutes 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 YQT 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
Thunder Bay YQT to Toronto YYZ
Airline
Air Canada Cargo
Flight time
About 1 hour 45 minutes (scheduled)
Check-in
At YQT cargo, about 3 hours before the flight
Pickup
About 3 hours after landing 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 Thunder Bay 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 we send your exact price within 24 hours, plus applicable taxes, with a list of what is included.

Get your price

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. 1

    Get your price

    Fill in the form with your pet's size and your dates, and we send your exact price within 24 hours.

  2. 2

    Crate

    We confirm the crate size. Use your own airline crate, or ask us about getting one to you in Thunder Bay.

  3. 3

    Flight booked

    We book the cargo space to Pearson and send you the drop-off details.

  4. 4

    Drop-off at YQT

    You or someone you trust drops your pet at YQT cargo about 3 hours before the flight.

  5. 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. We tell you the date it must be done by. 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 guide to Air Canada pet cargo.

Local guide: Thunder Bay

Leaving Thunder Bay with your pet

Weather and the best time to move

Thunder Bay has cold winters and warm, fairly dry summers, and Lake Superior softens the extremes near the shore. Summer days are usually 15°C to 30°C, with cool evenings. The city holds Ontario's record for the coldest wind chill.

June to early October are usually the easiest months, with mild days and cool nights; December to March are hardest because of deep cold and snowy roads.

Dropping off at Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT)

Pets are handed in at the airline's cargo office, not at the passenger terminal. From downtown Thunder Bay to the airport is about 5 km (Fort William) to 12 km (Port Arthur), 10 to 20 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 Thunder Bay

If your pet has a licence in Thunder Bay, let the licensing office know you are moving, and update the address on your pet's microchip record.

Ask your vet in Thunder Bay 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 5 km loop around Boulevard Lake is the city's most popular trail, and Prince Arthur's Landing links downtown Port Arthur to the Lake Superior shore.

Dates to plan around in Thunder Bay

  • July 1: Canada Day on the Waterfront at Marina Park. Big crowds and shuttle buses fill the Port Arthur waterfront, so expect slower traffic downtown.
  • September to early October: Fall colours season. Crisp, comfortable days make this one of the easiest times of year to move a pet.
  • December to March: Winter driving season. Snow and ice can slow or close roads, so check Ontario 511 before driving to or from the airport.

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.

A dog relaxing in a new home between moving boxes

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.

How to help your pet settle in

Thunder Bay to Toronto: questions

How much does it cost to ship a pet from Thunder Bay to Toronto?
It depends mostly on your pet's size: a bigger pet needs a bigger crate, and the airline charges by crate size or weight. Your delivery address in the Toronto area, whether you need a crate from us and the time of year count too. Fill in the form and we send your exact price within 24 hours. Applicable taxes are added, based on where the move ends.
How long is the flight from Thunder Bay to Toronto?
The scheduled flight time is about 1 hour 45 minutes. Your pet is checked in at airport cargo about 3 hours before departure and is usually ready for pickup a few hours after landing, so plan for most of a day from start to finish.
Who picks up my pet in Toronto?
We do. Our driver collects your pet at Pearson cargo and brings them to your home anywhere in Toronto and the GTA.
When is the best time to fly a pet from Thunder Bay?
June to early October are usually the easiest months, with mild days and cool nights; December to March are hardest because of deep cold and snowy roads. Also plan around July 1: Canada Day on the Waterfront at Marina Park. Big crowds and shuttle buses fill the Port Arthur waterfront, so expect slower traffic downtown.
Where do I drop off my pet at Thunder Bay International Airport?
At the airline's cargo office, not the passenger terminal. From downtown Thunder Bay it is about 5 km (Fort William) to 12 km (Port Arthur), 10 to 20 minutes. We send you the exact address, the opening hours and the drop-off time once the flight is booked.

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