His owner, Michelle Robertson, has just been appointed as the new chief executive of RSPCA ACT.

Ms Robertson is an international communications specialist from Johannesburg, South Africa. Five years ago, she made the move to the capital, and joined the executive team at social enterprise Communities@Work.

While this is her first foray into the animal welfare sector, Ms Robertston said animals had always played a big role in her family.

"[They] brought us so much joy," she said.  "RSPCA ACT makes a difference, every single day, to both the animals in its care but also to the humans that connect with animals...and I wanted to be part of it."

RSPCA board president Jeffrey Butler said Ms Robertson had a proven track record of leadership and the organistion was now well placed to continue its work improving the lives of Canberra animals, following the appointment of four new board members earlier this month.

That included former ACT chief minister and Labor senator Katy Gallagher, who was ousted from the upper house in May over her citizenship status.

Gearing up to step into the top job next month, Ms Robertson said she was anticipating a steep learning curve, but would aim to build on the foundation set down by outgoing CEO Tammy Ven Dange.

Ms Ven Dange, who left the RSPCA at the end of June, steered the organisation back into surplus during a turbulent time for its finances.

While the shelter still relies heavily on community fundraising, there has also been cause for celebration of late.

This year, for the first time, it hit a "formidable" 91 per cent rehoming rate across all species, with almost 2000 animals adopted.

Ms Robertson added Bowie to her family in November and "cannot imagine life without him".

"Perhaps over time I will be able to pay forward all the love and joy that I have received," she said.

According to the RSPCA ACT's latest annual report, which will be released in the coming months, 756 kittens were adopted last financial year and the number of cats coming into the shelter also fell by 21 per cent.

Inspectors had eight successful animal welfare prosecutions.