YYZ to YQT
Toronto to Thunder Bay Pet Relocation
We move dogs and cats from Toronto to Thunder Bay 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 Thunder Bay
Sending your pet on its own as airline cargo is the fastest way to get from Toronto to Thunder Bay: 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 Thunder Bay.
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 Thunder Bay YQT
- Airline
- Air Canada Cargo
- Flight time
- About 2 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 Thunder Bay 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 Thunder Bay
The person you choose collects your pet at the airline's cargo office at YQT. 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: Thunder Bay
Moving to Thunder Bay with a pet
Weather and the best time to move
Thunder Bay has cold winters and warm, fairly dry summers, and Lake Superior softens the extremes near the shore. Summer days are usually 15°C to 30°C, with cool evenings. The city holds Ontario's record for the coldest wind chill.
June to early October are usually the easiest months, with mild days and cool nights; December to March are hardest because of deep cold and snowy roads.
Arriving at Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT)
Pets are collected at the airline's cargo office, not at the passenger terminal. From the airport to downtown Thunder Bay is about 5 km (Fort William) to 12 km (Port Arthur), 10 to 20 minutes.
Pet licence and local rules
The City of Thunder Bay requires dogs and cats to be licensed within 14 days of ownership, through Municipal Enforcement Services. The licence tag must be worn at all times.
- Pets must be kept on a leash on the City's multi-use trails, and owners must clean up after them.
- To use an off-leash park, dogs must be over four months old, licensed and up to date on rabies shots.
- Small pets can ride Thunder Bay Transit buses if they stay in a carrier for the whole trip.
Where to walk your dog
Off-leash areas include Centennial Park (off Arundel St, about 6.5 acres with a 0.6 km trail loop), Beverly Street (former ball diamond south of Port Arthur Stadium, at Beverly St and Winnipeg Ave), Hillyard Lands (off Central Ave, turn north at Carrick St) and Neebing Playfield (Neebing Ave and Mary St W, fenced). Check the posted rules before you let your dog off leash.
The 5 km loop around Boulevard Lake is the city's most popular trail, and Prince Arthur's Landing links downtown Port Arthur to the Lake Superior shore.
Dates to know in Thunder Bay
- July 1: Canada Day on the Waterfront at Marina Park. Big crowds and shuttle buses fill the Port Arthur waterfront, so expect slower traffic downtown.
- September to early October: Fall colours season. Crisp, comfortable days make this one of the easiest times of year to move a pet.
- December to March: Winter driving season. Snow and ice can slow or close roads, so check Ontario 511 before driving to or from the airport.
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.
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 Thunder Bay
- 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 Thunder Bay: questions
How much does it cost to ship a pet from Toronto to Thunder Bay?
How long is the flight from Toronto to Thunder Bay?
Who picks up my pet in Thunder Bay?
How quickly do I need to license my pet in Thunder Bay?
Where can my dog run off leash in Thunder Bay?
What is the weather like in Thunder Bay?
Get your Toronto to Thunder Bay price
Takes about three minutes. We send your price within 24 hours.