North Bay Woman

46 NORTH BAY WOMAN | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8 10 QUESTIONS with Wallis Smith volunteer at Guide Dogs for the Blind By Jane Lott allis Smith, 80, volunteer at San Rafael-based Guide Dogs for the Blind, helps socialize 6- to 8-week-old puppies by introducing them to dif- ferent sights, sounds and textures, teaching them how to walk on a leash, and other necessary skills as a prelude to specialized training. 1 Where are your from? I was born and raised in San Francisco. I got a job as an elemen- tary school teacher for the Dixie School District. I came over the bridge one day and never went back. 2 How did you find out about Guide Dogs for the Blind? I've wanted to do this since I was 10. We lived across the street from Mrs. Ranshoff (of Ranshoff Department Stores). She was on the board of directors for Guide Dogs, and I would see the dogs at her house. 3 How long have you been volunteering for Guide Dogs? I'm a new kid on the block. I've only been there for 28 years. We had one volunteer who had been there 52 years before she died; another 51 years. 4 How did you get started? Well, at Guide Dogs to get a job, somebody has to die. Some- body died and that's how I got the job. I inherited it from Evelyn, who had been there 52 years. She chose me as her successor. 5 What is your job? When I fi rst started working, I typed for four to six months. I hate typing, but it was my way in. Now, I manage a group of 20 to 22 volunteer "puppy testers." We check them out, make sure they're handled, that they get a lot of human interaction. 6 That's a lot of volunteers for just one day a week. Why so many? There are more than 900 volunteers at Guide Dogs. To raise the kinds of dogs we have, you have to have volunteers. Volunteer- Wallis Smith gives one of her pups a kiss on the forehead. – Photo by Stuart Lirette W

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