Ruth

She’s a friendly face at Tullamarine, always ensuring our hounds get a nice walk in the sunshine every time she’s around.

Ruth has joined GAP at our Tullamarine kennels through enrichment volunteering, she’s fostered a few GAP greys, and is always ready to handle a hound at our adoption events. She’s a friendly face at Tullamarine, always ensuring our hounds get a nice walk in the sunshine every time she’s around.

What’s your name, how do you volunteer with GAP, and when did you first start volunteering with us?

RUTH BIRD - Enrichment and Foster

What made you decide to become a GAP volunteer?

During Covid, a friend of mine adopted a Greyhound from GAP. Her name was ABBY and she has a nose that twitches independently from the rest of her snout! It is so funny. Anyway, I fell in love with this strange breed there and then. I'd never met one before and found them the most loving, quirky, funny, adorable hounds I'd ever met. I wanted to be around them as much as I could, but didn't feel ready to adopt one myself. Volunteering for GAP was a happy medium as I got to hang out with snoots all day long any time I wanted and it was free:)! What could be better?

What’s your favourite part of being a GAP volunteer?

My favourite part of Volunteering is the snoots of course. They deliver a dose of happiness everytime you see them. And they are always so happy to see you. The joy I get from being able to play, groom, snuggle, walk and kiss....the snoots, is the best and I hope they feel the same. I also love grooming them when I can and get their lovely coats to a nice glossy sheen. Which can be a challenge as they are often very furry:) I really enjoy being able to bring a bit of enrichment and love to their days, as they can be long in the kennels and they all deserve so much love and care. I wish I could get to them all.

What’s your best story or memory from your time volunteering with us?

I have so many best stories from Vollying with GAP, it is impossible to choose!. I have also taken on fostering occasionally and I do have some funny tales from that. Some which I maybe shouldn't share (I'm probably not the best foster carer...I'm too soft and I can't help it if they like couches).  But in terms of being an Enrichment Volly, I really enjoy meeting the personalities of all the dogs, as they are just so different. From boisterous, goofy, charming, quiet, shy, boofy, silly, soft, loving, and playful, I love to try and be the best version of me for the dog I am working with and connecting with the dog, even if it is just for a limited time. 

One story at Tulla, I was in one of the kennels with a lovely black boy, and he was really quiet and on his bed. It was after meal time and he was resting. He let me lie next to him and I just recall stroking his head and belly. Everytime I would stop, he'd give me a little nudge to keep going, as they do, and me being a sucker, kept going. It turned late and after a while I heard one of the kennel attendants tell another that I was in with (I forget his name) and that I was probably alright just to stay there even though Volly hours were over. I felt good, for one, I got to spend longer being with a lovely calm snoot and giving him some touch/quiet time, and two, GAP trusted me to stay, as long as I didn't fall asleep in there with him.

What’s your best story or memory from your time volunteering with us?

Vollying with GAP is so rewarding. I do it as much for the dogs, as my own well being. If you've been thinking about it, why not try. There is no set time commitment as you can call your hours. Any little bit helps in giving a loving soul some much needed love and care. I'd say you'd probably want to have an affinity with dogs to start, and if you've never met a greyhound or have a preconceived idea of what a greyhound would be like,  enjoy having your mind blown! They will win you over in no time with their beautiful personalities. You will only be rewarded with love of the most gentle beings. And the volly managers are great too. They will look after you.