YYZ to YYT
Toronto to St. John's Pet Relocation
We move dogs and cats from Toronto to St. John's 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 St. John's
Sending your pet on its own as airline cargo is the fastest way to get from Toronto to St. John's: about 3 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 St. John's.
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 St. John's YYT
- Airlines
- WestJet Cargo and Air Canada Cargo
- Flight time
- About 3 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 St. John's 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 St. John's
The person you choose collects your pet at the airline's cargo office at YYT. 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: St. John's
Moving to St. John's with a pet
Weather and the best time to move
St. John's is the foggiest and windiest major city in Canada, and it gets about 240 cm of snow a year, with occasional freezing rain. Summers are cool, with August averaging about 16°C. Winters on the island hover around 0°C.
July to September are the easiest months, with mild, settled weather, while the snowy, windy months from January to March are the hardest.
Arriving at St. John's International Airport (YYT)
Pets are collected at the airline's cargo office, not at the passenger terminal. From the airport to downtown St. John's is under 10 km, about 15 minutes.
Pet licence and local rules
The City of St. John's requires every dog aged six months or older to be licensed within 20 business days of moving in or getting the dog, renewed every year, and the dog must wear its City tag whenever it is off your property. Cat tags are available but not mandatory.
- Dogs must be on a leash and wear a City tag whenever they are off their owner's property.
- Dogs and cats may not run at large, and owners must pick up after their pet anywhere off their own property.
- In City dog parks, each person can bring at most three dogs, and dogs in heat are not allowed.
Where to walk your dog
Off-leash areas include Quidi Vidi Park (The Boulevard, separate small and large dog areas), Bowring Park (Waterford Bridge Road), Mundy Pond Park (Blackler Avenue) and Kenmount Terrace (Messenger Drive, separate small and large dog areas). Check the posted rules before you let your dog off leash.
Signal Hill National Historic Site has trails with harbour views (dogs on a leash of 3 metres or less), and the paths around Quidi Vidi Lake are a local favourite.
Dates to know in St. John's
- Early August: Royal St. John's Regatta. Between 30,000 and 50,000 people gather around Quidi Vidi Lake. It is a civic holiday and depends on the weather, so plans can shift by a day.
- December to March: Winter snow and wind. Heavy snow, strong wind and freezing rain can slow roads and delay airport pickups.
Renting with a pet in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador landlords can ban pets in the rental agreement. They cannot charge a separate pet deposit, only one security deposit of up to three quarters of a month's rent.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your lease, and contact the Residential Tenancies Office 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 St. John's
- 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 St. John's: questions
How much does it cost to ship a pet from Toronto to St. John's?
How long is the flight from Toronto to St. John's?
Who picks up my pet in St. John's?
How soon do I need to license my dog after moving to St. John's?
Do cats need a licence in St. John's?
Where can my dog run off leash in St. John's?
Get your Toronto to St. John's price
Takes about three minutes, and you see your price on screen.