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Pet Valet

By road

Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie Pet Transport

We drive your dog or cat from Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie, door to door. About 7 to 7.5 hours on the road, on a private trip with no other pickups on the way. Pets only: you travel separately.

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Sault Ste. Marie boardwalk along the St. Marys River

Moving your pet to Sault Ste. Marie

Driving is often the easiest way to move a pet between Toronto and Sault Ste. Marie. There is no airport cargo office, no airline crate rules and no flight to book. We pick up your pet at the door and drive straight to the new home.

It is a private trip, with no other pickups on the way. We stop for water on the way, keep the vehicle at a comfortable temperature and send you updates until your pet arrives.

You can travel on the same day or on a different day. Many owners send their pet once the new home is set up, or after the movers have left.

Quick facts

Distance
About 690 km from central Toronto
Drive time
About 7 to 7.5 hours, plus stops
Pickup
Your door in Toronto or the GTA
Drop-off
Your door in Sault Ste. Marie or nearby
How pets ride
In a carrier, a crate or loose, agreed with you
Taxes
Plus applicable taxes, based on where the trip ends

Your price

What your Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie price includes

Your price depends on the two addresses, how many pets travel and the extras you choose. Fill in the form and you see your price on screen in about three minutes, plus applicable taxes, with a list of what is included.

Get your price

Included

  • Pickup at your door and drop-off at the new door
  • A private trip: no other pickups on the way
  • Stops for water on the way
  • Updates from the driver during the trip

Extras

  • Help with crating or leashing
  • Borrow one of our crates
  • More than one pet from the same home
  • Early, late, weekend or holiday pickup

Step by step

How it works on this route

  1. 1

    Get your price

    Fill in the form with both addresses, your date and your pet, and you see your price on screen in about three minutes.

  2. 2

    Book

    Book online. We confirm the driver and the pickup time with you. Nothing is charged until then.

  3. 3

    Pickup

    On the day, the driver collects your pet at the door in the Toronto area.

  4. 4

    On the road

    About 690 km, with stops for water and updates for you along the way.

  5. 5

    Arrival in Sault Ste. Marie

    The driver hands your pet to you or to someone you choose at the new door.

Why drive instead of fly?

  • No airline rules. No crate size limits, no holiday or winter embargo dates, and no airline breed limits for snub-nosed breeds.
  • Door to door the same day. No cargo office drop-off and no waiting at the airport after landing.
  • Calmer for many pets. One vehicle, one driver, and no loading onto a plane.

For cities further away, flying is faster and easier on your pet. See our routes by air and by road.

Local guide: Sault Ste. Marie

Moving to Sault Ste. Marie with a pet

Weather and the best time to move

Sault Ste. Marie has long, cold and very snowy winters, usually from late November to early April. Snowfall averages over 3 metres a year. Summers are warm and can be humid, with Lake Superior keeping things milder.

June to early October are the easiest months, with mild weather and clear roads; December to March are hardest because of heavy snow and winter highway driving.

The drive between Sault Ste. Marie and Toronto

We follow Highway 400 and Highway 69 to Sudbury, then Highway 17, about 690 km and roughly 7 to 7.5 hours, with stops for your pet. In winter we check Ontario 511 before leaving.

Pet licence and local rules

Under the City's Animal Care and Control By-law, dogs and cats over five months old must be registered within seven days of ownership and renewed by March 31 each year. The tag must be worn at all times.

  • Strathclair Dog Park is the only place in the city where dogs may be off leash, apart from their owner's property.
  • Elsewhere, dogs must be on a leash no longer than 1.8 metres (6 feet), and owners must pick up after them everywhere in the city.
  • Cats are not allowed to roam at large in the city.

Where to walk your dog

The off-leash area is Strathclair Dog Park (962 Second Line East, 3.5 acres split for small and large dogs, open dawn to dusk). Check the posted rules before you let your dog off leash.

The 25 km John Rowswell Hub Trail links the waterfront walkway, Bellevue Park and Fort Creek Conservation Area, and is good for leashed walks.

Dates to know in Sault Ste. Marie

  • February: Bon Soo Winter Carnival. This long-running winter festival has many outdoor events, and past carnivals have closed with fireworks at Bellevue Park.
  • Late November to early April: Snow season. Heavy snow can slow highways and city streets, so build in extra time and check Ontario 511 before travel.

Renting with a pet in Ontario

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.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check your lease, and contact the Landlord and Tenant Board if you are unsure.

Where we deliver

Homes across Sault Ste. Marie and nearby, including Downtown, Steelton, Korah, Prince Township (just west of the city), Goulais and District (north of the city), Searchmont (north of the city).

Pickup areas in Toronto

We pick up anywhere in Toronto, including Downtown, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, East 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.

A dog relaxing in a new home between moving boxes

Settling in Sault Ste. Marie

  • 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.

How to help your pet settle in

Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie: questions

How much does pet transport from Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie cost?
It depends on the two addresses, the number of pets and the extras you choose. Fill in the form and you see your price on screen in about three minutes. Applicable taxes are added, based on where the trip ends.
How long does the trip take?
The drive is about 7 to 7.5 hours between central Toronto and Sault Ste. Marie, plus stops for water. Your exact address and the traffic change it a little. We give you a pickup time and keep you updated on the way.
Can I ride along with my pet?
No. Pets only in our vehicles. You travel separately, and someone meets your pet at the drop-off address.
Does my pet have to be in a crate?
Not always. On the road, pets ride in a carrier, a crate or loose, depending on the pet. We agree it with you before the trip. If you do not have a carrier or crate, you can borrow one of ours.
My dog is a snub-nosed breed. Can you take them?
Yes. The airline breed rules do not apply on the road, so pugs, bulldogs, Persian cats and other snub-nosed breeds can travel with us. We keep the vehicle cool and plan the trip around the weather.
Where can my dog run off leash in Sault Ste. Marie?
Only at Strathclair Dog Park on Second Line East. It has separate areas for small and large dogs and a double gate. Everywhere else, dogs must stay leashed.
Do cats need a licence in Sault Ste. Marie?
Yes. The by-law requires dogs and cats to be registered and to wear their tag. Registration runs by calendar year and must be renewed by March 31.
How long is the drive from Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie?
About 7 to 7.5 hours, by Highway 400, Highway 69 and Highway 17, plus stops for your pet. Winter weather can add time, so we check Ontario 511 before leaving.

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