ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 3, 1997 TAG: 9701030106
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
Roaming dogs attacked animals in a Nativity scene, chewing into the necks of two sheep and causing a donkey to panic and run out in a road, where it was hit by a car.
The animals, part of a Nativity scene at Ramsey Memorial United Methodist Church, were euthanized Monday night after a veterinarian examined them and said they couldn't survive.
``Everyone felt connected to these animals,'' said the Rev. Hugh Harris, the church's pastor. ``It was like losing members of the family.''
Although the church had ended its depiction of the Nativity scene on Christmas Eve, Harris said the display, housed in a shed, was kept in place so the donkey could be treated for an injured rear leg.
The minister was called to the church Monday about 8:30 p.m., after passers-by saw the attack and alerted police. Authorities said a neighbor who lived behind the church and another man beat the dogs away with sticks.
LENGTH: Short : 29 linesby CNB