YYZ to YHZ
Toronto to Halifax Pet Relocation
We move dogs and cats from Toronto to Halifax on WestJet Cargo and 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 Halifax
Sending your pet on its own as airline cargo is the fastest way to get from Toronto to Halifax: about 2 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 Halifax.
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 Halifax YHZ
- Airlines
- WestJet Cargo and Air Canada Cargo
- Flight time
- About 2 hours (scheduled)
- Check-in
- At YYZ 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 Toronto to Halifax 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
- 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 you see your exact price in about three minutes.
- 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 Halifax
The person you choose collects your pet at the airline's cargo office at YHZ. 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, 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: 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 guides to WestJet pet cargo and Air Canada pet cargo.
Local guide: Halifax
Moving to Halifax with a 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.
Arriving 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 collected at the airline's cargo office, not at the passenger terminal. From the airport to downtown Halifax is about 35 km by Highway 102, roughly 30 to 40 minutes.
Pet licence and local rules
Halifax Regional Municipality requires dogs over 6 months to be licensed within 20 days of moving there, unless the dog is already licensed in another jurisdiction, and a licensed dog must always wear its tag. Cats do not need a licence.
- Dogs must be leashed and under control in all municipal parks unless an area is signed as off-leash.
- No pets are allowed on supervised municipal beaches, such as Shubie Beach, while lifeguards are on duty in summer.
- Pets can ride Halifax Transit buses and ferries only in a closed carrier that fits size limits and does not block the aisle.
Where to walk your dog
Off-leash areas include Point Pleasant Park (South End, most of the park is off-leash, with on-leash and no-dog exceptions), Shubie Park (Dartmouth), Dartmouth Common (Dartmouth) and Mainland Common dedicated off-leash park (Clayton Park area). Check the posted rules before you let your dog off leash.
The paved Chain of Lakes Trail, from Joseph Howe Drive out toward Lakeside, is a popular on-leash walk with lake views.
Dates to know 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.
Renting with a pet in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia landlords can set reasonable rules, which can include whether pets are allowed. Landlords cannot charge a pet deposit. In a condo, the condo's own rules on pets also apply to tenants.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your lease, and contact the Residential Tenancies Program at Service Nova Scotia 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 Halifax
- 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 Halifax: questions
How much does it cost to ship a pet from Toronto to Halifax?
How long is the flight from Toronto to Halifax?
Who picks up my pet in Halifax?
My dog already has a Toronto licence. Do I need a Halifax one?
Can I take my dog to the beach in Halifax?
Does hurricane season affect a pet move to Halifax?
Get your Toronto to Halifax price
Takes about three minutes, and you see your price on screen.