Dr. Donal McKeown

Born and raised on a farm in Simcoe County, Ontario.

Education:

  • Vasey Public School, Simcoe County, Ont.
  • Oakwood Collegiate Inst., Toronto, Ont.
  • MacMaster University, Hamilton 1952 – 53
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Guelph, Ont. 1953- 1958.

Professional Activities:

  • 1957  –   1958       Dairy and Small Animal Practice at Buck Animal Hospital with Dr. Robert C. Buck, Waterloo Ontario.
  • 1958   – 1974        Small Animal Practice, Friendship Animal Hospital Washington D.C., U.S.A. Co- owner and partner of Dr. William C. Ready, O.V.C.   1939 and Dr. R. Harvey Cowan O.V.C. 1949.
  • 1974  –   1984       Associate Professor of Small Animal Surgery, Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
  • 1979   –   2010      Owner and founder of the Fergus Veterinary Hospital, Fergus, Ontario
  • 1984  –   1994       Associate Professor and Director of Ethology in the Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College,   U. of G.
  • 1990  –   1995       One of the founders and Vice President of Veterinary Medical Diets, Guelph, Ontario.
  • 1992  –   2001       Co-founder of International Bio Institute Inc., Fergus, Ontario.  (I.B.I. is a company, which tests Veterinary Drugs for Pharmaceutical Companies to obtain U.S. and Canadian Government approval).
  • 1993   – 2006       Co-founder of Professional Animal Behavioral Associates. A company, which promotes advanced training methods for dogs and provides an annual three day course in Animal Behavior at the University of Guelph and  manufactures and distributes the Gentle Leader® line of products in Canada.
  • 1997  –   2001       Co – founder of Ontario Nutri Labs, Fergus Ont.  A company, which tests dog and cat food for the Pet Food Industry.  The O.N.L. facility is one the largest in North America.

Presentations: 

  • Lectured on Small Animal Surgery and Ethology, both national and internationally
  • Lectured on Equine behavior and learning within Canada.
  • Appeared on many local and national Radio and T.V programs
  • Made presentations to the Annual British Veterinary Association in 1980, 1981, 1983, and 1989.
  • Lectured on Ethology at all of the Veterinary Colleges in the U.K.
  • Lecturer on Canine Ethology – Canadian Customs College, Quebec, 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981.
  • Made presentations to many Veterinary Colleges in the USA.
  • Made presentations to the North American Veterinary Conference and the American Animal Hospital Associations Annual meetings.
  • Made presentations to numerous Veterinary and lay organizations in all Provinces of Canada.
  • Contributed to four Veterinary texts, four non- scientific Veterinary books and authored numerous Veterinary journal articles.

Past Activities:

  • Past President of the Washington D.C. Veterinary Academy.  The D.C. Academy serves Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. and is one of the largest Veterinary Academy in North America.
  • Past President Of The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association
  • Director of the Human Animal Bond Association Of Canada
  • Co-Chairman of the World Conference Human Animal Bond held in Montreal in 1992.
  • Past President of the Fergus / Elora Rotary Club
  • Consultant to:  Canadian Customs – “Canine Detector Service”, Canadian Rescue Dogs Service, Several Canadian Police Forces, “Canine Unit
  • Co-founder and past member of the board of the “Probus Club of Center Wellington”.

Awards:

  • Teaching Excellence Awards 1977, and 1984. Ontario Veterinary College
  • Distinguished Teaching Award 1978 –Ontario Veterinary College
  • Veterinary of the Year for Ontario 1989.    Presented by the Ontario Veterinary  Association
  • Honorary Member of the Washington D.C. Academy of Veterinary Medicine.
  • Recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship,  Rotary’s highest award.
  • The Alumnus of Honour, University of Guelph,   2004
  • The Canadian Animal Health Institute  Award  for Industrial Innovation and Leadership The award recognizing and honoring outstanding accomplishments in the field of Canadian animal health.  July 2010.

Current Veterinary Activities:

  • Professional Animal Behavior Associates Inc.   (President)

Community Activities:

  • Co-Chair of the “Groves Memorial Community Hospital Fund Raising Committee”.
  • Site Selection Committee for the New Groves Hospital
  • The Fergus / Elora Rotary Club   (all offices )
  • A co- founder of the Probus Club of Center Wellington

Personal:

  • Married to Marion and have 4 children, 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Hobbies:

  • Family, boating, travel, genealogy, and reading .