I felt badly that the Bucket Fund this month for the mini donkey, Lila – who was rescued from a feedlot with the horrible sarcoid that was subsequently cut open (making it way worse) by a bad vet and then brought to UC Davis for help trying to save her life – was only limping along.
(You can read Lila’s story here.)
Since UC Davis is about an hour and a half away, I decided to pay her a visit. I figured taking pics and hanging out with her might help make her story more intimate and perhaps boost her donations.
Friday was my day off, so I went!
UPON ARRIVAL
Upon arrival at UC Davis, I was told that Lila was being prepped for more Cisplatin injections. And, if I wanted, I could watch…
Of course I wanted to watch!
I’m going to tell you right now, what I saw broke my heart…
It was great to see the vets and techs surrounding little Lila and helping her. What broke my heart was that this tiny, 4 year-old little donkey was this messed up – by a human hand.

This was the scene when I arrived. The vets were getting ready to administer Cisplatin injections into the mass above and below her eye. The mass grew substantially due to a vet who cut open the sarcoid tumor while trying to remove it – thus encouraging it to grow more rapidly and overtaking her eye.
Seeing her laying there with that huge, overgrown, nasty tumor covering her eye made me want to count up all of my cash (of which I had little) and take off all of my jewelry (I had none) and hand it to UC Davis and say – do whatever it takes!
So, I’m just going to put up the donation button right here because there is no amount that can bring this girl’s eye back to normal… but we can help her fight!

I am standing here weeping for this darling minidonk. I breed these humble gentle donkeys & I can barely believe they could end up on a feedlot. How could that happen? I am a long way away (Australia); I wish I could visit her. I will donate. Will anything be done to bring to book the dreadful vet who made such a mess of her eye? Please save her. Please please, save her & get her the best home – where she will never again be so ill- treated. I wish I could be there to care for her. I am simply heart-broken.
Ugggghh, this story makes me so mad. And Dawn, I am glad you put a push behind it. I have been thinking about sending some money for days. And yet, I also feel that the vet that butchered little Lila needs to be brought to justice. He should be paying for the treatment. I hope the owner of little Lila is suing his butt.
Nevertheless, of course it is “all about the little donkey” and I am donating $100.
Thanks Dawn.
Donated. How could I not?