Dapto Dogs is a local institution known around the world and there are many in the region who make their livelihoods or have strong social links to the sport.

So we can understand the anger and resistance to this massive change.

Yet even in the first few pages of the Special Commission of Inquiry’s report into the industry it is clear that – without systemic cruelty – the industry is untenable.

For instance the report says evidence suggests that at least 50 per cent, and up to 70 per cent, of greyhounds born in NSW were ‘’deliberately killed simply because they never were, or no longer were, capable of being competitive greyhounds’’.

Even with conservative estimates, that’s somewhere between 48,000 and 68,000 dead healthy dogs over the past 12 years.

The live baiting scandal which rocked the industry last year is well known, and the inquiry also heard evidence that this is common practice.

The report acknowledges there are some social and economic benefits of maintaining the industry; however it also makes clear that if the industry continues with reforms ‘’the outlook for participants is bleak’’.

It says changes suggested by Greyhound Racing NSW will add to the cost of owning, training and breeding greyhounds – yet increases in prize money in this climate were ‘’at best’’ uncertain.

‘’Whatever steps GRNSW succeeds in taking, the ‘elephant in the room’ will be the continuing slaughter of thousands of greyhounds for no other reason than they never had or no longer have any commercial usefulness. Unless it can be overcome, it will be difficult – probably impossible – for greyhound racing to acquire a positive social impact image.’’

It also talked about the general failure of rehoming, something an Illawarra charity – Wollongong Animal Rescue Network – is working hard to change. 

Its founder, Naomi John, has welcomed the NSW Government’s ban, however has urged it to make the transition as humane as possible, by funding rehoming programs.

So it is with some sadness that we must say goodbye to greyhound racing at places like Dapto and Bulli. Perhaps though it’s time for us, as a society, to move on from barbaric practices like live baiting and the mass slaughter of healthy dogs that make this sport economically viable.