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VIDEO: Amazing Aileen an inspiring foster carer

Have you ever thought about fostering a greyhound? Here’s someone that might give you some inspiration.

The annual Victorian Greyhound Awards are just a few weeks away, and we’ve rewound the clock back to the event last year when renowned foster carer Aileen Travis was presented with the inaugural Greyhound Racing Victoria Welfare Award.

Aileen is one of the Greyhound Adoption Program’s most cherished volunteers, fostering around 200 greyhounds to help prepare them for their post-racing life as a pet.

The Crib Point resident said people were often astounded that she and husband Dean had only adopted three greyhounds during their 15-year association with the program.

“I always thought of the dogs as somebody else’s pet, and also, it will always be my foster dog. It doesn’t matter who adopts the dog, it’s still my foster dog… so, therefore, I have 200 foster dogs,” Aileen said.

WATCH: Aileen Travis’ emotional acceptance of the inaugural GRV Welfare Award.

It can be a very daunting time for a greyhound when they first enter retirement life and many of the dogs which come into GAP’s care need some extra help in a home environment before they’re ready for their forever homes.

Foster care assignments are generally for a period of three weeks and it is a time when they are introduced – often for the first time – to living in a home instead of a racing kennel and experiencing many new things such as going up and down stairs, walking on slippery floors, noisy household appliances and socialising with children and other dog breeds.

GAP provides food, a muzzle, snuggly coat and a lead to help assist our foster carers with their all-important work.

To find out more about becoming a greyhound foster carer, please click HERE