Animal welfare group the SPCA is to begin interviewing soon for a new inspector after Charles Whited left to go back into the construction industry.

Mr. Whited left the position on March 14, and ads have appeared in the Press for a replacement inspector to take over at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) as soon as possible.

Chairman of the charity and vet Dr. Andrew Madeiros said he had received a higher number of applicants for the post than he expected, and said the majority seemed to be of a very high quality. All of the candidates are Bermudian, but some are overseas at the moment, so the agency must wait to find out when they can be interviewed.

"Charles was offered a partnership in a construction company - a company he knew fairly well," said Dr. Madeiros.

"It was a little bit of a surprise, but he approached us and said he had an opportunity that he wanted to take.

"He was in the construction industry before coming to us, so it's an area he knows very well.

"We were very sorry to see him go. He had been with us for three or four years, but we understood his reasons."

Among the eight applications already received, one already works at the SPCA.

The remainder are people living on the Island, or Bermudians who have been overseas for a while. "There are probably about six that we are going to interview," added the chairman.

"I was surprised that we got so many applications because it isn't an easy job, but a few of the applicants do have good backgrounds in terms of the experience. I would think we would start interviewing next week."

Dr. Madeiros said if the SPCA committee decided that the two people overseas should be interviewed, then the process may take a little longer.

But he said he hoped to have a new inspector in place within the next two months. In the meantime, staff at the SPCA are dealing with all of the issues as they arise, and are working closely with the Government vet at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. However, the chairman said, fortunately, the SPCA was not particularly busy at the moment, having had few kitten and puppy litters this year.

"I was encouraged by the number of applicants we got," said Dr. Madeiros.

"It does not look like we need to run the ads overseas. We would certainly like to get a Bermudian in the post."

The inspector is a key position within the SPCA, and among his or her aims is to enforce legislation related to the care and protection of animals, and raise awareness through education.