A pet meat business started by two Dubbo brothers 32 years ago is likely to shut down because of the greyhound racing ban, they say.
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Brian and Wayne Tink started Murrumbar Pet Meats from scratch, and grew it to a business that employees 15 people and turns over $2 million a year.
But because almost 90 per cent of their produce is consumed by the greyhound industry, the brothers said it will be unsustainable once the ban is enforced.
They are currently looking at other options to try and keep it viable but aren’t optimistic.
“We will be looking for jobs,” Brian said.
“I don’t think it will be sustainable. You work hard to set up a business and they take it from you. Thanks very much Mike Baird.”
The pair have vowed to keep going for as long as they can. Once the business ceases to be profitable, they will shut it down.
“We might be able to go to June 30 next year or we might shut down at Christmas time, it depends how quickly people scale down,” Brian said.
Both men are worried about the trickle-down effect. Not only for their employees but other businesses they deal with.
“We buy $3000 of fuel a month, our shooters go through a lot of tyres and need other repairs, all of that will be lost,” he said.
They said the number of kangaroos around the region will also increase because on average they culled 600 a week.
And while both men are about to watch the business they built up disappear in front of them, they said they fear more for others.
“We have no debt, we’ll also have no income but we aren’t as bad off as other people,” Brian said.
“Those people who have taken on debt are in big trouble, through no fault of their own,” Wayne said.
“We can go and get another job but others aren’t so lucky if they have big debts to pay.”