GREYHOUND breeder and trainer David Pringle was left in dismay after NSW Parliament voted to pass legislation banning greyhound racing early on Wednesday morning.
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Although he was not surprised the decision was made, Mr Pringle said he was shocked the government could take away something that was part of his life.
“It rips the guts out of you,” he said
Based at Clergate, Mr Pringle has about 70 dogs in his care, some he rears for other people, but he owns about 50 and while he will move pups interstate and some dogs will go to New Zealand, he plans to keep about 20 greyhounds.
“We are going to keep the brood bitches and a few more retired dogs, they will have a home for life but we will sell what we can,” he said.
He plans to keep them amid fears they would be put down if he gave them up to the RSPCA due to thousands of greyhounds expected to flood the system.
“There’s no way the RSPCA is going to get them, I would rather feed them and let them live,” he said.
“They probably will rehome some but there’s going to be 12,000 greyhounds.”
While he was angry at those who committed animal abuses that led to the greyhound ban, he was more outraged at Greyhound Racing NSW who he said should have stamped it out earlier and questioned how journalists from 4 Corners with a limited knowledge of the industry could find out about the abuse while the industry body denied any knowledge of it.
Orange based Bathurst Greyhound Racing Club racing manager Jason Lyne also questioned why an entire industry was brought down based on the actions of a minority of people.
Mr Lyne said the government has not considered the consequences of a complete ban on the sport to trainers, businesses that supply food, breeders and other associated industries.
“Their livelihoods are going to be gone; how do you re-educate people who have been in greyhounds for four generations and don’t know anything else?” he said.
He said only the few people who have done the wrong thing should be penalised, suggesting jail time, heavy fines or a lifetime ban.
Greyhound racing will continue as normal in Bathurst until the ban comes into effect, unless something is done to overturn the decision. Mr Lyne said people in the industry need to remain hopeful.