“Playing with eight four-week-old Lab puppies is the best volunteer job in the world,” says David De Mers of New Paltz. “I go every Tuesday morning. If I lived closer, I’d probably set up a cot and be there all the time.” De Mers is talking about his very tough assignment as an early socializer for animals bred to work as guide dogs through Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Founded in 1956 to assist and enrich the lives of blind and visually impaired individuals, the non-profit organization has become one of the premier guide-dog schools in the world.

Before dogs are fostered at out at 18 months old to people to be trained, they are socialized by early and intimate contact with lots of folks, who also expose them to a safe variety of stimuli. “I go to the center where the puppies are born and right into the kennels with their Moms to massage the babies,” says De Mers. “They get used to human touch from birth. You take them to a playroom to introduce them to various footings, tapes of sounds and climbing activities inside and outdoors.” Not a bad gig for anyone with a passion for dogs, but who might not be able to own one full-time.