For the people, by the people. They were the words we were told described government.

I’d say all greyhound people would be very disillusioned at present that you and two others could vote a whole industry into history without the participation of the NSW people is unbelievable.Then to rush the decision through the upper house to become law. I don’t believe you even listened to the opposition. Do you even wonder how we feel? Ring the help line and ask how many calls they get now from us. Wonder how it feels to own, work or participate, when all is now totally worthless. Every asset not even saleable. Where is our future or more importantly what is our future, ALL GONE worthless not a cent to be made from the kennels to the actual reason for it all, the magnificent dogs.

You and your government have no idea how it feels to go down to the kennels and work with these grand animals who love to run, were created to chase and built to run. Eye dogs, movement motivates them. Do a race day morning at a kennel and ask yourself how they know its race day. I don’t tell them, change the routine but they know. Their behavior changes to boisterous and noisy until departure. As we leave we can hear the winging of the ones out of luck that day. Ask the dogs what they love doing. You have brutalized all from the owners and workers to the dogs. You have sentenced nearly all to death. Freedom is gone; we have no say so government is gone too.

Since the live baiting, in which less than 1 per cent of our ranks participated, and were caught, and most where prosecuted. We as a body have worked hard and spent lots to get all our facilities up to date with new standards so we are legal. Not one more person has been caught live baiting. Kennels have been checked as well as the tracks. We are trying. The surplus dogs, as you call them, slow or damaged which are humanly put down happened, we are addressing that to the best of our ability.

In all animal business there are losses, even pet dogs have massive losses. Check the pounds and RSPCA. There are not enough homes for them. It’s illegal to put a lame sheep on a truck to sell, what happens to them. Please let us survive. Our livelihood and joy in the job is valuable to us as people, and we are people, a part of and a small part of the process. What are we now?

We are now non people. You are the judge and jury for NSW. We don’t exist. 

Sport is a form of entertainment for the participant too, from that there is a sense of joy in the achievement. We have the Olympics on now, people are animals who can participate in much variety. All domestic animals are restricted by us. I don’t judge the footballers who tackle each other and crash to the ground at speed, are we the only animal allowed to enjoy it? The dogs are still breaking records on the track and enjoying the chase they no longer can do any other way. You have also threatened that horses are next.

My words of wisdom to my children for choices for their future are don’t do it if you don’t love it, you won’t do it well, don’t judge unless you have participated. Don’t destroy a magnificent breed of animals who are the most loving animals you could share your life with. Don’t make them into lounge lizards and obese, keep them fit, fast and beautiful. There are not enough homes for the normal dogs so what is going to happen to them?

Most of us will keep a couple or what we can, but when they are out of work the dog’s food, worming, flea and vet bills will be impossible. We are people, small part in the whole, which voted and had belief we were part of the process. The way you are doing this has made us question your idea of government. Our men and boys fought in wars to keep our freedom and constitution alive. Was it all for nothing? Is power ruling now? Just the tip of the iceberg, lots besides us will suffer.