Tim Trow was arrested and charged with animal cruelty offences in a November raid at the Toronto Humane Society. (CBC)

Tim Trow, the former president of the Toronto Humane Society, has resigned from the group's board of directors, his lawyer says.

Trow's ability to discharge his responsibilities as a member of the board is seriously compromised while charges against him remain outstanding, Andras Schreck said Tuesday.

Trow and four other senior officials were arrested and charged with animal cruelty after police conducted a raid at the society's shelter in November at the behest of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA).

Trow stepped down as president shortly after the raid.

He intends to vigorously defend himself against the charges, which include counts of animal cruelty, obstruction of a peace officer and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, Schreck said.

The OSPCA took over operation of the River Street facility shortly after the raid, alleging dozens of animals were neglected at the Toronto shelter, including many left to die in their cages without proper care and nutrition.

The humane society has disputed those allegations, and has claimed the OSPCA's allegations were politically motivated.

Some humane society staff have returned to work at the shelter, but are engaged in largely administrative and financial matters. OSPCA officials are providing care to the animals at the shelter, which resumed adoptions on Jan. 4.

OSPCA to continue providing animal care

Meanwhile, a judge ruled on Tuesday that the OSPCA will continue to oversee the care of animals at the society for the time being.

Justice David Brown ordered an accountant to comb through the society's books to make sure the charity's finances are in order.

The society receives all its funding through donations, and Brown said he was unhappy about how much donor money the shelter appeared to be spending on what he called trivial legal fights.

In his ruling, Brown wrote that "the evidence raises serious questions as to whether the [Toronto Humane Society] is managing its financial resources in a manner appropriate to pursuing its charitable purposes."

Both the OSPCA and the humane society will appear in court next Tuesday, at which point Brown could rule on whether the society can regain full control of the shelter.

With files from The Canadian Press