The NSW government’s decision creates an exciting new future for the greyhound breed.

In a “shock” decision on Thursday, Premier Mike Baird announced the industry will be closed completely from July next year. It follows a Special Commission of Inquiry into greyhound racing, the findings of which were handed to the state government last week.

“RSPCA NSW is ecstatic that the NSW government has today announced that it will ban greyhound racing in NSW,” RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman said.

“It is a decision that places the welfare of greyhounds and other innocent animals who have been subjected to cruelty by this industry as the paramount consideration over and above

financial interests.”

But while the RSPCA, PETA Australia and greyhound adoption agencies have thrown their support behind the move, there is concern over what will actually happen to the dogs and puppies in the industry.

In a statement, the government said the options for the dogs will include: humane euthanasia; remaining in their current home; rehomed through an adoption program; or transferred interstate or overseas to jurisdictions that have appropriate animal welfare standards.

“Humane euthanasia will be the last resort,” RSPCA NSW spokesperson Jessica Conway assured news.com.au.

“Every other effort will be made to rehome, however it’s a reality that not every dog will be behaviourally suitable for rehoming or in good enough physical health. We will work to rehabilitate any behavioural problems, as we do with all our animals.”

What will happen to the surplus of greyhounds across NSW?Source:Getty Images

The government said it will provide RSPCA NSW and the NSW Police Force with the means to oversee the humane treatment of greyhounds as the industry is shut down.

“Ultimately, it’s the responsibility of greyhound owners to look after their dogs and do what’s in their best interest,” Ms Conway added.

“RSPCA NSW is here to support the greyhound industry if owners are unable to care for their animals. We are currently reaching out to rescue partners across the state, as well as liaising with RSPCA members societies nationally.”

PETA Australia Special Projects Coordinator Desmond Bellamy told news.com.au that while they support the decision, the government must ensure that it also ceased all breeding across the state.

“By putting an end to greyhound racing, the New South Wales government is taking a stand against a deadly and cruel industry,” Mr Bellamy said.

“The government must ensure that the greyhound racing industry stops all breeding programs immediately in order to facilitate phasing out the industry and to make certain that there are not even more dogs in need of “forever homes”.

“Over the next year, any money earmarked for building or renovating tracks should be reallocated to promote desexing and dog-adoption programs.

“We can all do our part to ensure that these tired and abused animals finally get the life they deserve.”

The Baird government said they will help RSPCA NSW with rehoming and the humane treatment of greyhounds.Source:Getty Images

The greyhound racing industry was investigated after the ABC uncovered the livebaiting scandal in 2015, which revealed disturbing footage of live animals being used to train greyhounds.

As of July 2016, there are 6809 registered greyhounds in NSW, but many more have been euthanased in previous years.

Mr Baird said the Special Commissions of Inquiry’s report found that between 48,000 and 68,000 greyhounds bred to race were killed in the past 12 years because they were deemed “uncompetitive”.

The report found, “In NSW in the last 12 years … somewhere between 48,891 and 68,448 dogs were killed because they were considered too slow to pay their way or were unsuitable for racing.

“In the industry, they call this ‘wastage’, it’s not wastage: it is the unnecessary slaughtering of tens of thousands of healthy dogs.”

Animals Australia: Out of 20,000 dogs born each year, only 2000 will go on to live a full life. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

Activist group Animals Australia, who provided the secret footage to ABC’s Four Corners, believe around 18,000 dogs — including young, injured and retired greyhounds — are killed each year in Australia.

“Out of 20,000 dogs born each year, only 2000 will go on to live a full life. We estimate 90 per cent of healthy dogs are killed simply because they haven’t run fast enough,” Lyn White said.

The group said this decision is about saving the lives of these dogs, and not ending them.

“We’re confident the government will put a strategy in place to ensure their welfare. The industry also has a responsibility given that it has been profiting from these animals,” said Animals Australia spokesperson Lisa Chalk.

“One of the positives that came out of Animals Australia’s investigation was that greyhound adoption rates increased. People have learned what beautiful and gentle creatures they are,” she said.

“Rescue groups will hopefully band together with the community to see these dogs get the future they deserve.”

PETA said that now the NSW government had taken a stand against the industry, they hoped other states would follow suite.

“The greyhound racing industry treats dogs like machines,” PETA said in a statement.

“Many are “discarded” as puppies in the name of “selective breeding”. Others are shot, bludgeoned to death or simply abandoned to fend for themselves when they’re deemed too old, injured, slow or exhausted to continue racing profitably.

“By putting an end to greyhound racing, the New South Wales government is taking a stand against a deadly and cruel industry.”

Mr Baird said the Special Commissions of Inquiry’s report found that between 48,000 and 68,000 greyhounds bred to race were killed in the past 12 years.Source:Getty Images

In response to the decision, Australia’s largest greyhound breeder and owner, Paul Wheeler, said he was in “shock” by the decision, and raised concern over what will happen to the multi-million dollar industry that supports many rural families.

“Everything has just come to a standstill, like everyone I am still in shock,” Wheeler told Australian Racing Greyhound.

“There are thousands of people who have got millions invested in the industry in equipment, greyhounds, properties and mortgages and all those people have been driven to the wall.

“Most people were confident throughout the whole process that the industry would keep going, but I have always said it was going to be a 50-50 decision.

“It is very disappointing that a very small percentage of people have done the wrong thing, yet the government are punishing everyone.”

Derarca adopted her greyhounds through the Greyhound Adoption Program. Hopefully more will face a similar life instead of euthanasia. Picture: Janine EastgateSource:News Corp Australia

Greyhound racing has been banned in many countries and many states of the US and is legal in only eight countries around the world. NSW will be the first state in Australia to ban it from July next year.

Mr Wheeler said the decision will probably put an end to breeding in NSW, with the possibility that other states could make the same move in the future.

“It is possible that there could be a flow on effect to other states, but it is hard to know what the future holds.

Ms Conley said she hopes people will consider adopting greyhounds as their next family pet, and not be swayed by the stigma around the beautiful breed.

“There’s a lot of misconceptions around greyhounds and how they are as companions,” she said.

“Greyhounds are great city dogs because they have a lounge lizard mentality. After a walk or run they are happy, and they will just chill out and sleep.

“Hopefully we will see more people across the state raising their hands to adopt these dogs.”

If you’d like to consider adopting a greyhound, or to support the RSPCA go to rspcansw.org.au.