KEY POINTS:
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."
SPCA Auckland will celebrate its 125th anniversary next month.
Mr Kerridge said he would be reflecting on many memories, such as the time he called for - and got - the resignation of former patron Sir Paul Reeves, who accompanied a group to the Cook Islands and watched a pig-slaying.
"That's something that I was sort of infamous for," Mr Kerridge said.
"But if you're fighting for animal welfare, then you have to fight hard."
Mr Kerridge said he was excited about the future of animal welfare because of the promising attitudes of young people.
