Dr Angus Pringle, the vet at the centre of the Kloof and Highway SPCA drama, is to take his case to the CCMA.
The society recently suspended Pringle for putting down two bull terriers, which were handed in to the society after they were found roaming the street.
Ian Cox, Pringle's lawyer, said while the society had not instituted disciplinary proceedings against Pringle, he would be challenging the lawfulness of his suspension.
As a result of the public outcry surrounding the incident, the entire committee of the Kloof and Highway SPCA's board resigned.
Explaining his side of the matter, Pringle - who commenced employment as a veterinary surgeon for the society this year, after serving as its chairman for 19 years - said the incident with the dogs had seen a reputation built up over a lifetime destroyed by the organisation.
The euthanasia of animals brought into the society was guided by city bylaws, the Animals Protection Act and the SPCA practice manual, Pringle said.
In terms of the Animals Protection Act, a veterinarian was entitled to euthanase an animal immediately if he or she thought it was so dangerous, vicious or diseased it ought to be destroyed either in the public interest or for humane reasons.
He had chosen to euthanase the two bull terriers on Monday, July 21, because he believed they constituted a serious danger to those who cleaned out the animals' cages.
"That judgment call was influenced by the size of the dogs (they were particularly large for the breed), the fact they had extensive fight wounds, both old and new, and the knowledge that bull terriers, even those who are devoted to their owners, can be aggressive towards strangers, especially in strange environs," said Pringle.
The dogs - Chaka and Tombi - which had been handed in as strays, were not in good condition, wore no collars, could not be identified in any other way, and had not been reported missing, despite having been on the loose since Sunday morning. "The two dogs were, in fact, only reported missing on Tuesday afternoon," said Pringle.
Had they immediately been reported as missing, or worn suitably labelled collars or microchips, none of this need have happened, he said. "It was a case of put them down or place the Kloof and Highway SPCA's cleaning staff and other SPCA staff at risk.
"Having served Kloof and Highway SPCA for the better part of my life, I am finding it very difficult to come to terms with this," said Pringle.
An interim committee has been put in place after the entire former committee resigned. Marcelle Meredith, the head of the National Council of the SPCA, said the interim committee was made up of three people who served on the national council, and three who were members of the Durban and Coastal Branch of the organisation.
They are chairperson Jimmy Dove, Douglas Wolhuter, retired Durban lawyer Michael Hands, Hadyn Watkins, Chris Matheson and Meredith.
After having suspended Pringle, the society was making use of vets in surrounding areas and was looking to appoint a full-time vet, said Meredith.
"We are also using vets from the Community Veterinary Clinic, who volunteer their services once a week, mostly to do sterilisations."