The ruling appears to have taken many by surprise even though concerns over animal cruelty have been widely publicised.
There have been multiple inquiries across Australia since some greyhound trainers were exposed taking part in animal cruelty, including live baiting and mass killings.
The decision to ban the sport completely in New South Wales from July next year has shocked those involved in greyhound racing.
Greyhound trainer Kerry Drynan says she's an animal lover and thought there would be more consultation.
"I had hoped that's what was going to occur, that we would be involved more, that people would come to us and ask us what we thought. Unfortunately, we haven't really had anybody defending us all the way through."
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is among the animal welfare groups encouraging people to adopt greyhounds.
Doctor Liz Walker is the head of the RSPCA in Victoria.
"They are the most gentle, calm, loving animals with surprisingly little requirement for a whole lot of exercise. A couple of short walks a day is all they need and what they really need is a really comfortable couch."
The Australian Veterinary Association wants assurances there won't be wide-scale euthanasia of dogs.
Kerry Drynan's mother, Doreen, also a trainer, doubts the RSPCA will be able to prevent that outcome.
"How are they going to be able to help people dispose of their dogs like that, find homes for them and things like that? I can't see them doing it. All I can see is the RSPCA will take them and they end up getting euthanased."
On a national level, the RSPCA wants an Australia-wide greyhound racing ban although its Victorian division seems to be prepared to keep working with the industry.
The society's Doctor Liz Walker again.
"Our policy is not to ban racing. It's definitely not to do that but what we are saying is that animal welfare has to come first and foremost and we will work constructively with the industry and hold them to account and make sure that the community's wishes around animal welfare are well and truly addressed. So, in fact the jury's out in terms of whether or not the greyhound industry in Victoria or elsewhere in the country can deliver on that."
Victoria's Racing Minister Martin Pakula says the industry is on notice but he says Victoria is not presently considering a ban.
Mr Pakula has told Melbourne commercial radio the industry is adopting recommendations from multiple inquiries, and one outcome already is that fewer dogs are being bred.
The reform is aimed at eliminating the practice of putting down dogs that are seen as being too slow.
"I'm not suggesting for a moment that that's the end of the matter but there does need to be substantial reduction in the number of dogs that are bred and that's already well underway and it's going to continue. You're going to see those numbers continue to drop and you need to see an increase in the number of dogs adopted out at the end of their careers."
