Rescue me!

I was recently informed that "there is no way you can work 40 hours a week just doing rescue work".  I about fell on the floor and I wasn't sure if I was pissed or just completly shocked.  If you work in rescue and you happen to be the head cheese you ALWAYS work at least 40 hours a week.  People say how can you work a 40 hour a week day job AND work a 40 hour rescue job - WHAT CHOICE DO I HAVE....???

Rescue work never stops.  There is always a family moving who cant take their pit bull, a declawed cat peeing outside of its litter box, a dog contained in a car with no food or water, a litter of newborn kittens who need bottle fed, 12 rescues in need of help placing dogs on a euthanasia list, 3 digruntled volunteers, one board member who is going over the deep edge, 30 volunteers who rely on your constant communicatin to know whats happening, 2 staff to guide and direct, 10 foster homes to try and expand to 20 before winter, a building to raise, records to keep, fundraiser after fundraiser to keep the money coming in, spending nights trying to search for starving dogs, not to mention the 12 dogs and 31 cats I care for at home - most waiting for forever homes.  The list can go on and on and on.

The people who are closest to me KNOW how many hours I put in.  They know how many times the emails beep in, the phone rings, and they know how much time I DONT have to live a life on the weekends.  I work 10-14 hour days on saturday and sunday just trying to get caught up.  I am several days behind on returning calls (the very reason I tell people to email me on my voicemail).

I just simply ask that before someone judges someones time put in that they really ask the questions and consider spending a little time in my shoes - even if it's only for one day....

Really?  5 years into this and I am not worthy of a 40 hour a week title?  Will the bags under my eyes prove it? 

This is how I feel about that!