YYZ to YMM
Toronto to Fort McMurray Pet Relocation
We move dogs and cats from Toronto to Fort McMurray on Air Canada Cargo flights. We pick up your pet at home, supply the airline crate if you need one, handle the paperwork and check your pet in at Pearson.
Moving your pet to Fort McMurray
Sending your pet on its own as airline cargo is the fastest way to get from Toronto to Fort McMurray: about 4 to 4.5 hours in the air, instead of days in a car.
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. We look after everything in Toronto, and you choose who collects your pet at the airline's cargo office in Fort McMurray.
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
- Toronto YYZ to Fort McMurray YMM
- Airline
- Air Canada Cargo
- Flight time
- About 4 to 4.5 hours (scheduled)
- Check-in
- At YYZ 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 Toronto to Fort McMurray 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.
Included
- Home pickup anywhere in Toronto and the GTA
- Pearson cargo check-in, forms and labels
- Airline cargo booking, with all airline fees
- Flight tracking and updates for you and whoever collects your pet
Extras
- Airline crate in the right size, ready to fly
- Ride to your vet for the health check (you pay the vet directly)
- 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 we send your exact price within 24 hours.
- 2
Crate and vet
We confirm the crate size and supply it if you need one. If your pet needs a health certificate, we can drive your pet to your vet (an extra).
- 3
Flight booked
We book the cargo space and send you the flight details and the air waybill number.
- 4
Pickup and check-in
On the day, we collect your pet at home and check them in at Pearson cargo about 3 hours before the flight.
- 5
Landing in Fort McMurray
The person you choose collects your pet at the airline's cargo office at YMM. We send them the address, the opening hours and the air waybill number.
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: collect your pet as soon as it is ready. A pet not collected within 4 hours is moved to a kennel (or a vet) at your cost.
More questions? See the FAQ and our guide to Air Canada pet cargo.
Local guide: Fort McMurray
Moving to Fort McMurray with a pet
Weather and the best time to move
Fort McMurray has long, cold winters, with January lows around -20°C and colder snaps below -30°C. Summers are warm with very long daylight, close to 18 hours in June. Alberta's wildfire season runs from March 1 to October 31, and smoke is possible.
Late May, June and September are often easiest, with mild days, while December to February bring deep cold and mid- to late summer can bring wildfire smoke.
Arriving at Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM)
Pets are collected at the airline's cargo office, not at the passenger terminal. From the airport to downtown Fort McMurray is about 16.5 km, 15 to 20 minutes via Highway 69 (Airport Road) and Highway 63.
Pet licence and local rules
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo requires both dogs and cats to be licensed, and pets must wear their licence tags. New residents must register their pets within one business day of moving in.
- Pets must be on a leash whenever they are off their owner's property, except in an off-leash dog park.
- A home may keep up to four pets; a fifth needs a written request to the municipality and may need a home inspection.
- Owners must pick up pet waste right away on any property they do not own.
Where to walk your dog
Off-leash areas include Sara Holden Dog Park (Waterways) and Smart Dog Park (Thickwood, off Signal Road, open year-round). Check the posted rules before you let your dog off leash.
The Birchwood Trails, about 135 km of trails through boreal forest between Thickwood and Timberlea, are the local favourite for on-leash walks.
Dates to know in Fort McMurray
- Late February: WinterPLAY festival at Snye Point Park, with fireworks. Crowds downtown during the coldest part of the year.
- June 30 and July 1: Canada Day celebrations, with an evening fireworks show and a July 1 parade. Fireworks late at night and parade road closures can make moving days harder.
- March to October: Alberta wildfire season. Smoke or fire activity can affect roads and air quality, so keep plans flexible.
- December to February: Deep winter cold. Very cold days mean short outdoor waits and warm vehicles for pets.
Renting with a pet in Alberta
Alberta landlords can refuse pets or set pet rules in the lease. A refundable pet deposit counts toward the security deposit limit of one month's rent, and non-refundable pet fees are allowed if agreed.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your lease, and contact the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service or Service Alberta if you are unsure.
Pickup areas in Toronto
We pick up 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 Fort McMurray
- Book a visit with a new vet in the first few weeks and bring your pet's records.
- Update the address on your pet's microchip record.
- Keep your pet's routine, food and bedding the same for the first week.
Toronto to Fort McMurray: questions
How much does it cost to ship a pet from Toronto to Fort McMurray?
How long is the flight from Toronto to Fort McMurray?
Who picks up my pet in Fort McMurray?
How soon do I need to license my pet after moving to Fort McMurray?
How many pets can I keep in Wood Buffalo?
Where can my dog run off leash in Fort McMurray?
Get your Toronto to Fort McMurray price
Takes about three minutes. We send your price within 24 hours.