Dr Onn Ben-David - OAM BVSc Principal & Founder of the Clinic
Born on a kibbutz in Israel, Dr Ben-David migrated to Australia in 1970 to study veterinary medicine at the University of Melbourne Veterinary School. Following graduation in 1973, he worked with farm animals and domestic pets in Greensborough and at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital and finally in 1978, he established the Caulfield S
outh Veterinary Clinic (CSVC)
As well as servicing the dogs and cats of Caulfield and surrounding suburbs, the clinic’s first few years of existence was dominated with services to horses and farm animals around the Pakenham, Narre Warren and Frankston areas. In 1979 Dr Ben-David was first elected to the council of the RSPCA serving as a board remember until retirement in 2010. From 1981, he served as the Vice President of the Organisation for 28 consecutive years, during which he was awarded Honorary Life Membership for services to the RSPCA. Dr Ben-David has been heavily involved with the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) at a branch, state and national level, with a particular interest in a wide range of animal welfare and policy issues. In 2010 he was honoured with a Fellowship of the AVA for outstanding contribution to the veterinary profession. In the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honor list he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his contribution to animal welfare and the veterinary profession. Currently, Dr Ben-David is still serving on the Animal Welfare Policy Committee of the RSPCA, chairing the animal ethics committee of the RSPCA Victoria as well as representing RSPCA Australia on fish welfare at a federal level.
