Canberra Greyhound Racing Club chairman Alan Tutt has his hand on his heart and tears in his eyes when asked how he feels about a ban on greyhound racing.
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"It hurts," the self-described animal lover said, tapping his chest.
"Gutted. I'm gutted."
The looming end of the industry will equal the loss of about 50 jobs and millions of dollars in revenue. But the racing club will not go down without a fight.
Spokesman Kel Watt, a Labor party member and reputation management expert, said there were several legal and political avenues the racing club would pursue in a bid to overturn the ACT government's proposed ban.
The club will likely crowd-fund legal fees as it prepares for a battle of up to three years.
"We've got a whole lot of balls in the air," he said.
"Today is not the start of the ending, it's the start of the next phase of the fight."
Animal activist group PETA welcomed the ban but pushed the government to go further, calling for a stop to greyhound breeding.
"Greyhounds deserve to be loved - as do all dogs - instead of discarded when they fail to run fast enough or die trying to do so," associate director of campaigns Ashley Fruno said.
RSPCA ACT was also grateful for Friday's announcement.
"The decision that they made, whilst difficult, will save countless greyhound lives in the future," chief executive Tammy Ven Dange said."On behalf of the gentle giants, we thank you for giving them the opportunity for a better life."
Tutt said the ACT industry's clean slate on animal welfare should serve as a warning bell for horse racing industries in the capital.
"I just don't understand the relentless attack on the industry when you've been involved with it and you know that you do everything right," he said.
"They're head-hunting us as the first to go as a Greens-Labor anti-racing, anti-gambling, anything to do with anything."
