Meet the Team: Maria

As GAP’s Foster and Volunteer Coordinator, Maria works closely with the wonderful community of foster carers and volunteers who play an important role in preparing greyhounds for pet life. From matching greyhounds with foster homes and supporting carers throughout their foster journey, to welcoming new volunteers and working with participants in our Prison Partnership Program, there are plenty of moving parts to keep her busy.

Before joining GAP, Maria spent years working as a dog groomer. Looking for a change that would allow her to combine her passion for dogs with her love of working with people, she spotted an advertisement for a Volunteer Coordinator and decided to give it a go.

At the time, Maria admits she didn’t know much about greyhounds beyond the fact that they could run very fast. These days, she jokingly considers herself something of a “greyhound bible”, and her love of the breed has made its way home too. Maria adopted her own GAP greyhound, the brilliantly named Long Face Jase, who shares his home with her affectionate Jack Russell Terrier.

What Maria loves most is that no two greyhounds are quite the same. From energetic zoomie enthusiasts to dedicated couch potatoes and everything in between, it’s their individual personalities that make the breed so special.

We caught up with Maria to learn more about life behind the scenes in GAP’s foster program, her unlikely pair of four legged friends and why watching a greyhound flourish in foster care can leave a special paw print on your heart.

What's your name and what's your role at GAP?

I’m Maria, the Foster and Volunteer Coordinator at GAP.

What does a typical day or week look like for you?

A typical week consists of matching foster dogs with our foster carers, checking in with carers who currently have greyhounds in their care, inducting volunteers and welcoming corporate volunteer groups.

I also check in on our prison dogs who are part of the Prison Partnership Program.

What first brought you to GAP?

I saw an advertisement online looking for a Volunteer Coordinator.

After years of dog grooming, I wanted to take my passion for dogs into a role where I could be more interactive with people. That’s what made me apply for the role.

Did you know much about greyhounds before working here? Has that changed?

I didn’t know anything about greyhounds except for how fast they were!

Now I feel like I’m a greyhound bible for anyone who has questions about them. Haha!

What's your favourite thing about greyhounds as a breed?

I love their temperaments. They can be crazy and full of zoomies, quiet and lazy, or anything in between!

Do you have a greyhound or other pet of your own?

I do have a greyhound. His name is Long Face Jase and I adopted him through GAP.

He’s a lazy boy who loves to sleep all day. I also have a Jack Russell Terrier who is very affectionate.

They get along so well. It’s quite an unlikely pairing, but it works!

Is there a particular greyhound, past or present, who's left a mark on you?

Not one in particular, but every now and then we have a few greyhounds come through the foster department who leave a special paw print on your heart.

Seeing them before and after foster care, and the progress they make along the way, is quite special.

What's the most rewarding part of your job?

Helping greyhounds find their forever homes.

What's a funny, surprising or heartwarming moment you've had on the job?

For me, it’s the overwhelming amount of support from GAP staff across all departments.

Everyone really comes together to help all the greyhounds in our care, and it’s incredible to be a part of.

What's one thing you wish more people knew about greyhounds or the adoption process?

There’s often a misconception about how much exercise greyhounds need.

They truly are happy to lounge around and do nothing most of the time!

Coffee or tea? Morning person or night owl?

Tea, and definitely a night owl.

If you were a greyhound, what would your name be and why?

Silly Goose, because I can be a little forgetful and silly at times!