YYZ to YVR
Toronto to Vancouver Pet Relocation
We move dogs and cats from Toronto to Vancouver 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 Vancouver
Sending your pet on its own as airline cargo is the fastest way to get from Toronto to Vancouver: about 5 to 5.5 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 Vancouver.
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 Vancouver YVR
- Airlines
- WestJet Cargo and Air Canada Cargo
- Flight time
- About 5 to 5.5 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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver
The person you choose collects your pet at the airline's cargo office at YVR. 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: Vancouver
Moving to Vancouver with a pet
Weather and the best time to move
Vancouver has mild, wet winters, usually between 0 and 10°C, with many rainy days and little snow. Summers are warm and dry, but hot days above 30°C and wildfire smoke days are becoming more common. Plan for wet paws and towels in winter, and shade and water in summer.
May, June and September are usually the easiest months, with mild and fairly dry weather, while July and August can bring heat and smoke, and November to February bring steady rain.
Arriving at Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Air cargo is handled in YVR's Cargo Village on Sea Island, next to the aircraft operating areas and close to the passenger terminals. Pets are collected at the airline's cargo office, not at the passenger terminal. From the airport to downtown Vancouver is about 15 km, 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.
Pet licence and local rules
Every dog over 3 months old needs a City of Vancouver dog licence, renewed each year, and must wear the licence tag on its collar. Licences are sold online or at Vancouver Animal Services.
- Dogs must be on leash in all parks, including on the Stanley Park Seawall, except in signed off-leash areas.
- Dogs are only allowed on a few beaches, and only inside the designated off-leash areas, some with seasonal and time limits.
- A person may keep no more than three dogs at one home, unless licensed as a kennel.
- On SkyTrain, buses and SeaBus, only small pets in a closed carrier that fits on your lap may ride, one pet per person.
Where to walk your dog
Off-leash areas include Spanish Banks (West Point Grey, beach off-leash area), Sunset Beach (West End, beach off-leash area), John Hendry Park (Trout Lake, East Vancouver) and Queen Elizabeth Park (Riley Park). Check the posted rules before you let your dog off leash.
The Stanley Park Seawall is a classic on-leash walk with ocean views, and the Spanish Banks waterfront is popular with dog owners.
Dates to know in Vancouver
- Late July: Summer fireworks at English Bay (usually the Celebration of Light). Large crowds and West End road closures in the evening, plus loud fireworks that can frighten pets.
- Late August to Labour Day: PNE Fair at Hastings Park. The fair runs for about 17 days and brings heavy traffic and crowds to East Vancouver.
- October 31: Halloween. This is the only night permit holders may set off consumer fireworks in Vancouver, so expect bangs in many neighbourhoods.
- November to March: Rainy season. Frequent rain means wet pickups and drop-offs, so pack towels and a waterproof cover for the carrier.
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 Vancouver
- 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 Vancouver: questions
How much does it cost to ship a pet from Toronto to Vancouver?
How long is the flight from Toronto to Vancouver?
Who picks up my pet in Vancouver?
Do I need to license my dog when I move to Vancouver?
Can I take my dog on SkyTrain after we arrive?
Are dogs allowed on Vancouver beaches?
Get your Toronto to Vancouver price
Takes about three minutes, and you see your price on screen.