Health Update - Charlie

14 April 2022

Charlie, one of our Old and Proud Donkeys, was rushed to Liphook Hospital on Tuesday afternoon for an urgent operation.

Charlie displayed symptoms of Colic on Tuesday morning and deteriorated very quickly. After an initial investigation by our own vets, it was quickly decided that Charlie needed hospital treatment, and Sooty put his hoof up to volunteer to be Charlie’s friend (Sooty is well known at Liphook!).

On arrival Charlie was immediately x-rayed and scanned. A large, ball shaped, blockage was found in his abdomen, and there were only two options for Charlie. As an old donkey we could say that we wouldn’t put him through any further stress, or we could give the immediate go ahead to give him a fighting chance of life by letting him have an operation to remove the blockage. Since we believe in giving all our donkeys the best chance of life, and since we have had great success with surgical procedures on other old donkeys such as Colin, Jill, and Naomi, we were determined to give Charlie the best opportunity that we could. Hence, we gave the go ahead for the operation, although we fully understood the expense and the fact that the operation might not work.

The staff at Liphook got Charlie into surgery as quickly as possible. They discovered that his digestive system was being blocked by a large ball of food which had to be surgically removed. By the end of Tuesday evening, Charlie had gone through the operation and was in recovery.

On Wednesday, Charlie appeared to have recovered from the trauma of the operation and was beginning to eat some sloppy food. The signs are positive, but we cannot take anything for granted with an older donkey. He has a period of rehabilitation in front of him, but he is in the best place and getting the best possible care. Charlie is not ‘out of the woods’ yet and we will update our supporters when we can. Fingers crossed everybody!

Irrespective of the final outcome here, we are indebted to our vets and the team at Liphook for their prompt diagnosis and action which got Charlie out of immediate danger and pain.

Sooty meanwhile has settled down in his suite, has ordered his morning newspapers, organised his menu, selected his paddock for grazing, and is making the most of his latest Liphook holiday!

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We’re looking for a People and Development Coordinator

by abigail.fox • 28 May 2026

If you’re an HR professional looking to reconnect with the people side of your role, this is a wonderful opportunity to join our compassionate, values led team. At the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary everything we do is guided by a clear purpose: providing refuge, new beginnings and exceptional care for donkeys and other equines in need. We’re looking for someone who values collaboration and who brings warmth and integrity to their work. You’ll be excited by the opportunity to combine your HR expertise with building meaningful relationships across the sanctuary. By supporting our team of staff and volunteers you’ll be making a lasting difference for both people and animals. What you’ll be doing Build positive relationships with staff and volunteers, providing a warm, approachable first point of contact for people-related support and guidance Support the recruitment and onboarding, helping create a welcoming and engaging experience for new team members and volunteers from first contact onwards Coordinate meaningful inductions, training, and development opportunities that help people feel confident, connected, and set up for success Help foster a positive, values-led culture by supporting wellbeing, performance conversations, and people experiences across the organisation Work collaboratively with managers to ensure people processes are delivered smoothly, fairly, and with integrity Key Skills & Experience Level 3 CIPD qualification (minimum) Experience in HR administration and recruitment for a similar size organisation Strong organisational and time management skills Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities Knowledge of HR systems and employment compliance Ability to handle confidential information with discretion Why work with us? At the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, every day is a chance to make a difference — for our animals, our visitors, and our community. You’ll join a friendly, supportive team where kindness, connection, and care are at the heart of everything we do. Whether you’re helping someone settle into a new role, supporting colleagues, encouraging volunteer engagement, or building strong relationships across the organisation — your role will offer the chance to reconnect with the people side of HR while contributing to our vision of being a centre of excellence in donkey welfare. If this role is for you please apply on Isle of Wight Jobs .