Ginn says the grief caused by ban will never be forgotten

GREYHOUND trainer choked back tears as she described the relief she felt when Premier Mike Baird announced his controversial ban on the sport would be overturned on Tuesday.

Ginn has been involved in the sport for 35 years and currently trains from a property at Cudal in the NSW Central West with her partner Craig and brother Glenn.

“I am just so happy for everyone,” she said.

“My emotions are pretty high at the moment – to get this result after what everyone has been through over the past three months,” Ginn told Australian Racing Greyhound.

“It's a relief for everyone that our lives can go ahead, we can keep our dogs and we can keep racing.”

Ginn slammed the Baird government for making its original decision to ban the sport, which caused widespread devastation throughout the industry.

“I have a lifetime of memories having grown up in the industry since I was five years old and it is something I wasn't prepared to lose in the blink of an eye because of one man,” she said.

“It was ridiculous that one person could ban an entire industry based on lies and innuendo from other groups such as activists and those who have no idea how the industry works.

“The grief that this government put people through for three months will never be forgotten.”

The industry is now bracing itself for a turbulent few months as a newly formed , led by former premier , formulates a series of reforms which are set to include tough breeding restrictions, strict policies and harsh penalties for anyone found breaching the .

Ginn said she would welcome changes introduced for the industry if they assist in better welfare, and outcomes.

“If the rules are too harsh the sport will die off, but there are things that need to be changed and they need to be changed now – and if people don't want to abide they need to leave the sport.

“I do agree that breeding does have to be brought down, people needed to be regulated in regards to what they are breeding with and how many pups they are breeding – if you are not prepared to look after what you breed, don't breed at all.

“Dogs will be sold from within NSW, but if something simply isn't up to your standard, that dog should be your responsibility.

“Every dog has to have a future once it has finished racing – greyhound people understand that and I have plenty of pets here who will be with me until the day they die.

“In some circumstances people's lives change and they can't look after their greyhounds, so if we had a complex or a to ensure those dogs would be looked after, I would be all for that.”

For now, Ginn says she is just relieved to know the sport she loves will continue past July 1, 2017.

“Every day over the past three months I have had go down to my kennels and look them in the eyes and know that maybe one day I could never take them out and go to a racetrack again – that would not only break my heart, it would break their hearts too because they love to run.

“My dogs mean everything to me and I couldn't imagine my life without them. Now I can look at them and say ‘we won'.”

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Mad Panda
Mad Panda
7 years ago

Lose because of one man??  Hardly.  Because of a grossly mismanaged sport and corruption throughout. Baird didn’t cause that!!

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

Mad Panda  Back in your cage Panda.

Todman
Todman
7 years ago

Mad Panda you are acting in a manner that alienates you from decent society, Amanda Ginn your passion for our wonderful hounds is amazing, I think I love you.lol

kctipton
kctipton
7 years ago

“lies and innuendo from other groups such as activists and those who have no idea how the industry works.” — plenty of activists do know, and then they educate others  Then _they_ know.  The lists of offenders regarding banned drugs administered to dogs or found on properties suggests that they aren’t wrong.  Lots of and lots of misuse of dogs and cheating is going on, and it’s documented.

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

kctipton  LOL

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

kctipton You are admitting to hearsay and unfinished inquiry on the face of your answer but at least you are reading the thread. Just foe interest I noticed you have bobbed up after making comments on WA training award a long time ago. Just curious are you connected to Greyhound Racing, 

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

Mad Panda Hi you are using an emotional response to make your case. I have read your activity posts and agree with this item cut and paste. “The industry better start taking care of their own (dogs) and not lean on the community groups to do their dirty work.” I agree totally I would not send any of my greyhounds to a community group as most of them are simply not good enough to handle them. There are a lot of earnest people trying to help but need help themselves. In the regulated human welfare services we were trained, to… Read more »