THE chief superintendent of the SSPCA has hailed the support of the Scottish public as the organisation celebrates a huge milestone today.

Scotland's animal welfare charity was set up on December 18, 1839, and has never looked back with public support at an all-time high.

It currently has outposts all over the country, including a wildlife centre in Fishcross.

For any organisation to make it to its 180th birthday is remarkable, but Mike Flynn, chief superintendent, insists the SSPCA is a charity like no other.

He told the Advertiser: "It is absolutely amazing that we made it to 180 years, and we are going from strength to strength.

"We started out back in those days just rescuing work horses down in Leith but now we will rescue anything that moves or breathes, and not just rescue but care for.

"We are one of the only charities in the whole of Europe that can actually impose legislation, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Last year alone we reported 90 cases to the procurator fiscal; we do 95 per cent of the protection of animals in a legal sense."

Another crucial aspect the organisation covers now is education, explained Mike.

He added: "Last year, 240,000 school pupils were given talks by SSPCA staff, that's thousands of parents then being told about us and what we do.

"Polls recently have shown that we are the public's first thought when they find an injured animal; not the police or anyone else."

Mike, who has been with the SSPCA for 32 years, said he has watched the facilities, including the wildlife centre in Clacks, grow gradually into some of the best in the world – thanks entirely to the Scottish public.

He said: "The facilities in Scotland are world-class and have changed so much in those years.

"They were fairly basic when I started. Every penny that we have comes from the generous Scottish public – they all build our centres, including Fishcross.

"Our budget for this year is £17million and every single bit of that comes from the public. We don't get a single bit of funding from the government."

Perhaps with a tinge of sadness, Mike concedes that the SSPCA will be here much longer than he will, but he also knows that the centres are crammed with loving and caring staff and are supported by an animal-loving public.

He said: "I don't see a day when it [SSPCA] is not needed. We are a nation of animal lovers but sadly there is still a minority who think: 'It's my pet, I'll do what I want'.

"In the last couple of years we have seen a rise in barbaric acts, such as dog fighting or badger baiting, but it's important that we are catching them."

For every sad moment, Mike insists there are dozens of happy ones, and that it's a job he wouldn't swap for anything.

As for the "unbelievable" public who donate their money and time to the protection and care of animals, Mike insists the last 180 years – or the next 180 – wouldn't have been possible without them.