The Inverness Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre received a visit from new Scottish SPCA chief executive Kirsteen Campbell yesterday.
Currently 63 animals being looked after there are waiting for new forever homes.
Centre manager Elaine Floyd said: “It’s been fantastic showing Kirsteen around our centre and introducing her to our team.
“At the moment we have 63 animals in our care that have all sorts of different needs.
“While Kirsteen was here she got to meet the lovely Duke, a lurcher, who after 288 days in our care is now getting ready to go to his forever home.
“Duke is just one of 277 animals that we’ve rehomed in 2017. Our team members are so passionate about what they do and it was a pleasure to show our new chief executive first-hand the work that goes on behind the scenes.”
Ms Campbell joins Scotland’s animal welfare charity at a time when calls to its helpline have risen to an all-time high of almost a quarter of a million calls a year. Inspectors have attended more than 85,000 incidents in a year, and more than 20,000 animals have been cared for in the national wildlife rescue centre and animal rescue and rehoming centres across Scotland.
She said: “I was delighted to be able to go out and meet some of the team today – their enthusiasm, passion and commitment to the Society and the animals in their care is inspiring.
“I’m looking forward to visiting the rest of our centres and meeting the more of the team. There remains a growing demand for the vital services of the Scottish SPCA, and I’m delighted to be part of such an invaluable organisation.”