A FORMER RSPCA main board director from Silsden is the latest new franchisee to join an award-winning West Yorkshire-based dog walking business.

After 20 years with the animal charity, latterly managing 250 staff and a budget of £10 million, Mike Hogg is setting up a new dog walking franchise for Yorkshire’s largest pet care service, The Dog Walker, launched by managing director Richie Womersley in 2006 and now with five franchises in the region.

Mike will initially offer dog walking, home boarding and pet taxi services in the Silsden and Skipton areas, before rolling out the operation to the Keighley, Bingley and Baildon districts.

Mike, who spent more than 20 years with the RSPCA, said: “I seized the opportunity offered by the latest round of restructuring at the RSPCA to restructure my own work-life balance. I’ve always loved animals and knew I wanted to continue working with them in a more hands-on way.

“After researching animal care businesses nationally and meeting with Richie, I decided I liked its business model and animal-focused ethos. The Dog Walker has been hugely successful in other areas around Yorkshire and has won lots of awards. I am really excited to get started.”

A keen pet owner, Mike already has a dog, cat and a horse of his own.

Mr Womersley added: “We’re delighted to welcome someone of Mike’s calibre and expertise as our latest franchisee to join our team. It’s a real endorsement for our business.

“He has a wealth of pet care experience already under his belt.

“This is the exciting start of our plans to roll out the franchise framework nationally over the next couple of years.

“We’ve grown steadily through word of mouth recommendations and were even invited to take part in Dragons' Den by the BBC this year.

“All franchisees are personally trained, fully insured, registered and licensed.”

Mr Womersley started the Leeds-based business after working at kennels dealing with up to 80 cats and 55 dogs at a time.

It convinced him that pets were often distressed in an unfamiliar environment and feel safer and more relaxed in their own surroundings.

The business was nominated for two national awards in 2010, the Nectar Entrepreneur of the Year and HSBC Small Business of the Year, and were a Local Business Accelerators Regional Winner in 2012.