Dr Herkt replaces Helen Beattie, who has been appointed chief veterinary officer with the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
When he read about the SPCA Otago vacancy, he contacted Dr Beattie.
His interest was immediately aroused in the full-time position working as a veterinarian and with animal welfare inspectors, he said.
He is leaving a job as veterinarian at Humanimals in South Dunedin after more than four years, and will start work at the SPCA on October 9.
He was applying to become a warranted inspector and was ready for the associated challenges, he said.
``There will be some hard times and some hard cases.''
The new role appealed because he had worked for the SPCA in Auckland about 20 years ago and had contributed to a study on the bond between pets and their owners.
There was a greater awareness of the ``important'' role pets played in society, he said.
Originally from Auckland, he studied veterinary science at Massey University and had worked in a range of practices across New Zealand.
He had a break from vet work for about 15 years, starting an events management company and later working for American pet food and animal care company Mars, before returning to the veterinary industry.
He and his family moved to Dunedin about five years ago because his son was studying in the city.
``We found we really liked Dunedin and we'll be staying here for the long term.''
He wouldn't say what his favourite pet was, only revealing he ``gravitated towards cats''.
The series of books of stories about animals and their owners by the late British veterinary surgeon and writer James Herriot influenced his decision to become a vet, he said.
``It has been an interesting career and taken me a lot of places.''
