The prominent animal welfare advocate Dr Hugh Wirth has died aged 79.

Wirth was president of RSPCA Victoria for 43 years before his retirement in 2015 and the resident veterinarian on 774 ABC Melbourne radio for 30 years, dispensing no-nonsense advice to current and would-be pet owners every Saturday morning.

The RSPCA Victoria chief executive, Liz Walker released, a statement confirming Wirth’s death on Monday, saying he was “passionate, incredibly knowledgeable and tenacious”.

“Dr Hugh was at the forefront of many of the improvements we have seen in animal welfare in my lifetime,” Walker said. “He drove campaigns that resulted in the banning of puppy tail docking and the export of horses to Japan for slaughter, and he led the humane foods movement with the launch of RSPCA barn laid eggs in 1997.”

Wirth was a well-known public figure in Victoria due to his regular radio appearances. Fans paid tribute on social media to his acerbic style and achievements on behalf of animals.

Hugh Wirth provided the best radio imaginable for years on Saturday mornings in Victoria. Never failed to berate even the youngest children for being irresponsible pets owners. A life well lived. Vale. — rob harris (@rharris334) February 5, 2018

Rest In Peace Dr Hugh Wirth AM. You were and are a Great human being. On behalf of critters everywhere; We Thank You. The one who stopped puppy tail docking. The one who led the humane foods movement. The one who was worried about the animals in the Iraqi Zoos. Etc...Thank You 💙 https://t.co/UI8WKiUcU7 — Lucienda (@mortisha888) February 5, 2018

Victoria’s agriculture minister, Jaala Pulford, who passed laws last year banning puppy farming in Victoria in response to an extensive RSPCA campaign, said Wirth was a “tireless campaigner”.

A generation grew up listening to Dr Hugh Wirth on the radio, gently but firmly encouraging better care and higher standards, based on science.



A tireless campaigner who made an enormous contribution to improving animal welfare in Victoria, nationally and internationally. Vale. — Jaala Pulford MP (@JaalaPulford) February 5, 2018

Wirth joined the RSPCA as a junior member in 1949, at the age of 10. He began his veterinarian career in Drouin, West Gippsland, later joining and buying the Balwyn veterinary surgery, where he practised for 47 years before retiring.

He was elected to the RSPCA state council in 1967 and became president in 1972.

He was also the president of RSPCA Australia for 22 years and the first non-European president of World Animal Protection.

He was made a member of the order of Australia in 1985, in 1988 was the first Australian to be awarded the George T Angell Humanitarian award from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and was named Victorian of the Year in 1997.