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All About Dr. Dave
Dr. Dave is not an ordinary veterinarian.
Unless, of course, you consider working with dolphins, belugas,
sloths, snakes, birds, lizards and many more amazing animals
ordinary. Dr. Dave has been working as a vet for the Vancouver
Aquarium for the past 26 years.
If you have a pet care concern,
send your questions to Dr. Dave!
You asked Dr. Dave!
Join your hosts Andy and Lorraine in Wet
Pet Headquarters as they track down Dr. Dave to find out
the answers to questions that web surfers like you have
emailed in about their wet pets and cool creatures!
Where it all started…
Growing up in southern Ontario, Dr. Dave
never thought his career choice would have him stitching
up wounds for fighting crocodiles or helping a black-tipped
reef shark give birth. When asked about how it all began
Dr. Dave said, “I wasn’t the stereotypical ‘always
wanted to be a veterinarian’ kid. When I finished
grade 13, I thought about what I should do. I had an uncle
who was a veterinarian, so I decided, I’d try it.’”
 After
graduating from university in 1969, Dr. Dave started to
take care of cats, dogs, and other common small pets. Two
years later, Dr. Dave moved to Vancouver, looking for a
bit more variety.
His first career twist came with the arrival
of a vet student who had a passion for rehabilitating birds
of prey. Inspired, Dr. Dave began donating his time treating
eagles, owls, and falcons that were injured from power lines
and windows on office buildings. This work sparked an interest
in birds, which, in turn, led to parrots.
“As soon as you start doing parrots,
people bring you stuff without legs… snakes, lizards,
it’s a natural progression.”
In between the birds of prey, and the lizards,
Dr. Dave treated the dog of the general curator of the Aquarium.
Aware of Dr. Dave’s rare expertise, the curator asked
him to volunteer in the Aquarium’s Amazon Gallery.
Three years later, his volunteer duties evolved into a full-time
position.
Dr. Dave is an important member of the Aquarium
family. He not only cares about the Aquarium’s animals,
but also the staff, visitors and definitely their pets!
If you have a pet care concern, send
your questions to Dr. Dave!
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