The charity thanked him for his dedicated service. 

The head of a Scottish animal welfare charity has announced he is to retire after 37 years of service in the sector. 

Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn served his final day at the Scottish SPCA on Monday having started at the charity in May 1987. 

In his role he initiated and started the special investigations unit, which investigates organised dog fighting, badger baiting and the unscrupulous trade in pets. 

He wrote the first Inspectors instruction manual that was approved by Crown Office, and has been responsible for all uniformed staff within the society, all parliamentary issues relating to animal welfare, and dealt with all animal welfare related government consultations, including giving evidence to both Scottish and Westminster Committees. 

He also assisted in implementing animal welfare legislation in Jersey, Ireland, Canada and Catalonia.

Before he joined The Scottish SPCA, Mike worked with animals and was an elephant keeper at Edinburgh Zoo.

In 2006 he was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 80th birthday honours lists for services to animal welfare in Scotland.

He is also an Honorary Associate of both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Association.

Mike says it is the right time for him to step aside. 

In a statement, the Scottish SPCA said: “Thank you from each and every one of us for all you have done for the animals across Scotland. We wish you all the very best on your retirement.”

In March this year, after decades of campaigning, hard work and advocating for change, the outright ban on all forms of snares in Scotland was introduced as the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill was passed in the Scottish Parliament. 

The Bill also gives us enhanced powers to support Police Scotland in tackling crime by allowing SSPCA inspectors to search, seize and examine evidence in cases where they’re already on location helping a live animal. 

One of his strangest cases was that of Jimmy the crocodile who was found in the boot of a car! Of course, Mike had to make the sacrifice of booking a flight to Madrid with a colleague and then drove to Torremolinos in Spain to see Jimmy safely placed in a park there. 

Despite retiring, Mike will continue being an independent external animal welfare advisor on the welfare and ethics committee of Scotland's largest scientific animal research company and also a member of the Scottish Government’s Scottish Animal Welfare Commission.