YYZ to YLW
Toronto to Kelowna Pet Relocation
We move dogs and cats from Toronto to Kelowna 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 Kelowna
Sending your pet on its own as airline cargo is the fastest way to get from Toronto to Kelowna: about 4.5 to 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 Kelowna.
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 Kelowna YLW
- Airline
- Air Canada Cargo
- Flight time
- About 4.5 to 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 Kelowna 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 Kelowna
The person you choose collects your pet at the airline's cargo office at YLW. 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: Kelowna
Moving to Kelowna with a pet
Weather and the best time to move
Kelowna sits in the Okanagan Valley, with hot, dry summers and milder winters than much of Canada. Summer heat raises the wildfire risk, and smoke can drift into the valley. Hot pavement and smoky air are the main summer worries for pets.
Spring (April to June) and early fall (September and October) are easiest, with mild weather, while July and August bring heat, wildfire smoke and peak tourist traffic.
Arriving at Kelowna International Airport (YLW)
Pets are collected at the airline's cargo office, not at the passenger terminal. From the airport to downtown Kelowna is about 15 km, 15 to 25 minutes.
Pet licence and local rules
Every dog over 3 months old that lives in the Central Okanagan for more than 30 days must be licensed. Licences and dog control are handled by the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO).
- No more than three dogs over 3 months old may live at one home or property.
- In parks that allow leashed dogs, dogs must stay on sidewalks and trails.
- At Waterfront Park, dogs must stay on the walkways, on leash. Dogs are not allowed on the beach at Paul's Tomb.
Where to walk your dog
Off-leash areas include Cedar Creek Park (Lakeshore Road, the city's largest off-leash dog beach), Poplar Point Dog Beach (north end, near Sutherland Bay Park), Rutland Dog Park (Dodd Road, Rutland) and North Glenmore Dog Park (Glenmore Road, North Glenmore). Check the posted rules before you let your dog off leash.
The Mission Creek Greenway is a well-loved creekside trail where dogs are welcome on leash, and the Waterfront Park walkways are good for a downtown stroll.
Dates to know in Kelowna
- July 1: Canada Day in Waterfront Park, with fireworks over Okanagan Lake around 10 p.m. Big downtown crowds during the day and loud fireworks at night that can upset pets.
- July and August: Peak summer heat, wildfire season and busy tourist traffic. Smoke and heat are hard on pets, and roads near the lake are busy, so keep pets out of the heat and allow extra time.
Renting with a pet in British Columbia
BC landlords can refuse pets, and some leases have a no pets clause. If pets are allowed, the landlord can ask for one pet damage deposit of up to half of one month's rent. In a strata building, strata bylaws can also limit pets.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your lease, and contact the Residential Tenancy Branch 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 Kelowna
- 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 Kelowna: questions
How much does it cost to ship a pet from Toronto to Kelowna?
How long is the flight from Toronto to Kelowna?
Who picks up my pet in Kelowna?
Who licenses dogs in Kelowna?
Can my dog go on Kelowna's beaches?
Will wildfire smoke affect a summer move to Kelowna?
Get your Toronto to Kelowna price
Takes about three minutes. We send your price within 24 hours.