Appeal Launched To Help Donkey Lulu Recover From Major Surgery

The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary is asking for help to cover the cost of Lulu's treatment after she underwent complex shoulder surgery.

The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary has launched an appeal to help fund the treatment of Lulu, an 11-year-old donkey who has undergone major surgery after suffering years of undiagnosed shoulder damage.

Lulu arrived at the sanctuary in March 2026 as part of a group of six donkeys rescued from the New Forest.

The sanctuary's welfare team noticed she was repeatedly shaking her head, swishing her tail and withdrawing from the rest of the herd.

After initial treatment and pain relief failed to improve her condition, Lulu was taken to Liphook Equine Hospital in June, accompanied by her friend Dilly.

A CT scan revealed severe damage to one of Lulu's shoulders, including bone fragments and disease.

Vets believe the injury may have been caused by a collision with a vehicle during her time as a free-roaming donkey.

Lulu has since undergone complex surgery to fuse the damaged shoulder joint using two plates.

She remains at the hospital recovering and will need to stay there for at least eight weeks while vets monitor her progress.

The surgery alone cost almost £10,000, with the total cost of Lulu's treatment and extended recovery expected to exceed £15,000.

The sanctuary's General Manager Stephen Tobitt said:

"The scale and catastrophic nature of Lulu's injury were completely unexpected.

"Lulu is a young donkey with potentially 30 years ahead of her - we wanted to give her every chance to lead a happy, comfortable life with her herd on the Island.

"We'd be incredibly grateful for any support towards Lulu's ongoing care, whether it's by making a donation, adopting her or simply sharing her story more widely."

The sanctuary is now appealing for donations to help Lulu continue her recovery and eventually return to her herd on the Isle of Wight.