SPCA boss steps down for freer role

SPCA's top dog is leaving the office to take a more hands-on role in the battle for animal welfare.

Bob Kerridge, chief executive of SPCA Auckland, will step aside after 25 years to take up a newly created role as executive director, acting as the society's chief spokesman and advocate for animals.

The 70-year-old acknowledged that others would recommend he retired, but there was still a lot of work to be done in the fight for animal welfare.

"There's a lot of life left in the old dog yet - I'm freer to focus on other issues that really matter [and] there are plenty of things to do.

"The dog act [Dog Control Act] is always under scrutiny, and to make it work, we need to have a consistent connection with the authorities. We believe that it's the people that should be licensed, not the dogs.

"Another thing is improving sentencing for animal abuse and offending." MORE>>