A Dead Donkey...

Father O'Malley rose from his bed one morning.

It was a fine spring day in his new Ballina parish.

He walked to the window of his bedroom to get a deep breath of the fresh air outside.

He then noticed there was a donkey lying dead in the middle of his front lawn.

Not knowing who else to call, he promptly called the local... police station.


The conversation went like this:


''Good morning. This is Sergeant Jones. How might I help you?"


"And the best of the day ter yer good self.

This is Father O'Malley at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

There's a donkey lying dead right in there middle of me front lawn "


Sergeant Jones, considering himself to be quite a wit, replied with a smirk,

"Well now Father, it was always my impression that you people took care of the last rites!"


There was dead silence on the line for a long moment and then Father O'Malley replied:

"Ah, 'to be sure, that is true; but we are also obliged to notify the next of kin."