There are many who will welcome the Special Commission of Inquiry into the NSW greyhound industry after the Four Corners expose on live baiting.
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The ABC television program highlighted the dark side of the sport that some in the industry have turned a blind eye to for many years.
Bringing the problem out into the open is to be applauded, but Greyhound Racing NSW and the state government need to be mindful that their bid to win back public support for the sport could also worsen collateral damage among the innocent.
As the interim CEO of Greyhound Racing NSW Paul Newson said recently, the sport has lost its social licence.
It seems that anyone associated with the industry is, right or wrong, guilty by association.
This refers to the people at the industry’s core – owners, breeders and trainers. It also refers to the racers themselves. Greyhounds.
People in greyhound circles are quick to offer an anecdote about a friend or trainer who had a dozen dogs in his or her kennel prior to the Four Corners expose, but the fallout and expected impact on the sport in NSW has led them to prune numbers back to two or three.
At best, these greyhounds will be surrendered to adoption programs and animal rescue centres.
But euthanasia can also be the option of choice.
We call on all who oppose live baiting to take an equally strong stance in support of the other non-human victims in this scandal.
The greyhounds.
Make a donation to an animal rescue group such as Greyhounds As Pets, or consider giving one of the rehabilitated Greenhounds a home.
