The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission’s recently appointed Lead Canine Veterinarian, Dr David Blyde, pictured, comes to the Commission with a distinguished career in animal care.
Dr Blyde has been an authority on a range of veterinary topics around the world and continues to publish in veterinary books and journals.
As an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland and a member of the animal ethics committee at Griffith University, Dr Blyde is a welcome addition to the veterinary ranks at QRIC as he leads the veterinarians who practice at every Queensland greyhound race meeting.
In his illustrious career he has undertaken various consultancies including a project for DPI NSW on preparedness of zoos in the face of exotic disease outbreaks and DAFF on best practice euthanasia in stranded cetaceans.
Dr Blyde said he has held a range of roles in some of the most well-known Australian animal facilities as well as organisations around the world.
“I graduated from the University of Sydney in 1982 and then worked in mixed animal practice, small animal practice, horse practice and taught at TAFE,” he said.
“I was a clinical veterinarian at Taronga Zoo, Sydney and then Western Plans Zoo, Dubbo from the late 1980s until 2001.”
“I was also the veterinarian at Sea World on the Gold Coast from 2001 – 2020,” he said.
Dr Blyde was admitted to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in the Medicine of Zoo Animals in 1992 and is a former president of the zoo and wildlife chapter.
He is a member of various bodies including the Australian Veterinary Association, the Wildlife Disease Association, the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and the Australian Institute of Management.
Dr Blyde was also a past member of the Queensland executive of the Australian Veterinary Association and a former past president.
Dr Blyde said his role at QRIC is another step in his animal care career and he hopes to continue to work to improve the animal welfare standards of greyhound racing in Queensland.