Aileen
Aileen has been with GAP for the last 20+ years. She’s fostered with us since the early 2000 and is still taking dogs into her home today!
Through her time with us, she’s fostered, attended events on behalf of GAP, and even been awarded for her efforts with the organisation. It’s hard to talk about fostering dogs with GAP without mentioning the outstanding contribution Aileen and her husband, Dene, have made to our greyhounds. So many foster dogs that we lost count! We know we’re over 200 and still counting.
What’s your name, how do you volunteer with GAP, and when did you first start volunteering with us?
My name is Aileen Travis. I am mostly a foster carer these days, but I do volunteer at some adoption events. We used to volunteer at promotion events as one of our Greyhounds Wendy, she was our 13th foster dog, and we officially foster failed (adopted) with her in 2001.
What made you decide to become a GAP volunteer?
I saw an article in the Herald Sun back in 2000 about greyhounds not being compulsory for GAP greyhounds with their green collars. We had originally been interested in getting a whippet but couldn’t get greyhounds out of our heads! After having the article stuck to our fridge, my husband, Dene, decided to call GAP about fostering and we were matched with our first foster dog, Angel! She was a pretty little fawn girl who was always ready for a run around. Since Angel, we have been consistently fostering up until today! We used to collect our fosters at the Sandown vet clinic, where GAP started.
What’s your favourite part of being a GAP volunteer?
There are a lot of things I love about volunteering with GAP, but the top two would be the people I’ve met – volunteers and staff – and the dogs I’ve fostered. The dogs always come out of their shells once in the home with us and it’s fun to see their personalities start to shine through. Our 50th dog, Silver, was adopted by a young couple after his foster with us. I bumped into them a little while after their adoption and was amazed at the difference in his personality with us compared to his new home. That’s one of the things I like the most about fostering, figuring out their personalities and quirks once in the home and figuring out what their person home type is once they’re back with GAP. Now that fostering has increased to 4-weeks periods, I’ve really gotten a better picture of their behaviours before the end of the foster.
I was very lucky to be awarded the very first Welfare Award by GRV a few years ago. While I didn’t get into fostering for rewards or praise, it was lovely to be acknowledged for the hard work you put in as a carer.
What’s your favourite part of being a GAP volunteer?
After 20+ years with GAP, I’ve got a lot of stories and moments to share! Some of my favourites are:
- I had fostered a dog named River who was a big black boofy head boy. He had so much personality that he could win anyone over! However, there was one person who thought he was odd-looking thanks to a shorter tail after a bad case of happy tail and didn’t think he would be adopted as quickly. GAP used to hold greyhound playgroups as part of their Christmas parties and River’s adopter had bought him along. He was so full of enthusiasm, jumping in and out of the water tanks, running around like a mad thing. I was manning one of the stalls and he come over with his forever owner. River stopped, put his front feet up on the table and asked me for cuddles. He hadn’t seen me in months and still remembered who I was.
- A few years ago, I had fostered a super nervous boy named Sylvan. We had this boy between our greyhounds and only had our cat, Aster, and Aussie Terrier, Bruce. Sylvan was having a hard time settling into the home and was impossible to catch when it came time for walks. I felt like the meanest person in the world making him go for a walk when he was so unsure. I was getting frustrated as I felt like I was getting nowhere with Sylvan. I had been talking with another experienced carer who had taken on a greyhound who needed more exposure to small dogs. So she came over to expose her grey to Bruce, and Sylvan went with the other carer to remove any distractions. Sylvan’s personality changed dramatically when he was introduced to another calm greyhound. This foster with Sylvan made me realise that these nervous greyhounds often need the company of another greyhound to help mentor them in the ways of pet life. While Bruce was still a great companion, he wasn’t a greyhound. Sylvan was fostered again in a new home with a cat and another greyhound, where he seemed to thrive! Sylvan got adopted once back at GAP.
What would you say to anyone thinking of volunteering with GAP?
I find fostering challenging but a very rewarding and positive activity. You run the gamut of emotions from the joy of seeing the dogs make progress and the personalities blossom to the sadness of seeing them return to GAP after foster. It is worth trying! You learn so much and, not to sound cliché, you do get more than you give. If fostering is not for you, that’s okay! There are other ways to volunteer with GAP through enrichment and engagement opportunities.
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Meet our dogs ready for adoption
All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.
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Cliffy
Lizzie
Micky ARP
Micky is a handsome and affectionate greyhound with a calm and gentle nature. This sweet boy loves spending time with his people, seeking eye contact and wanting to please. While he can be relaxed and quiet, Micky does have a puppyish side and likes to stretch his legs with zoomies. He also loves treats and has shown interest in bird watching and believes that backyard zoomies are more fun with a bird nearby. He is looking for a home with a secure backyard. He would suit being an only dog or he may be suitable to live with medium or large canine companions. Micky may also be suitable to live with children aged 5 and over.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Michigan ARP
Michigan is a stunning girl that can be a little shy and puppyish to start but soon comes out of her shell and loves to lean on you for pats. She has beautiful eyes and will look up at you with so much love, you just won’t be able to resist her! We think she may suit a home with children that are savvy around large breeds and over 10 years, she may also suit living with another male companion of any size.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Uganda ARP
Are you looking for a quiet and sweet girl? Uganda might be the one for you! She can be a little shy when she first meets you but doesn’t take long to warm up. She is quiet and really wants to please her owners. She may suit living with children in their teens but would prefer to find a home with a canine companion of any size.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Bones
Pedro ARP
Pedro is a friendly, outgoing and confident greyhound with a big personality and an even bigger heart. Affectionate and personable, he loves spending time with his people and is always happy to make new friends. One of Pedro’s favourite things in the world is a good butt scratch, and he'll happily lean in for more when he finds the perfect spot! With his easy-going nature, Pedro may suit a home either as an only dog or with a medium to large canine companion. He could also thrive in a family with respectful children aged 10 years and over who are keen to share plenty of love, attention and cuddles with this charming boy.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
King ARP
Kingis a handsome, friendly and incredibly personable greyhound whose goofy, larger-than-life personality is guaranteed to keep his family smiling. This tall, affectionate boy loves being part of the action and has a playful, puppyish side that shines through in his hilarious zoomies and quirky antics. While King can be a little anxious at times, he always tries his best and gains confidence with patient support from the people he loves. Full of character, charm and plenty of goofy moments, King may suit a home with or without a medium or large canine companion and could do well with respectful children aged 10 years and over who will appreciate his fun-loving spirit and kind heart.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Bruno ARP
Bruno is a handsome greyhound with a gentle soul and a heart full of affection. Quiet, polite, and incredibly sweet, he enjoys spending time with his people and wins friends wherever he goes with his calm, personable nature. Bruno is confident in many situations, but like many greyhounds, he can occasionally be a little unsure and looks to his trusted humans for reassurance and support.
Friendly and easy-going, Bruno may happily settle into a home as an only dog where he can soak up all the attention, or he may enjoy living alongside another dog of any size. His kind and gentle temperament also makes him a lovely companion for families with children aged 5 years and older. If you're looking for a loyal, affectionate friend with plenty of charm, Bruno could be the perfect match.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Flashy