Beat a dead donkey

With thanks to Linda (WA).

Father O'Malley rose from his bed.
It was a fine spring day in his new Texas mission parish. He walked to the window of his bedroom to  get a deep breath of the beautiful day outside. He then noticed there  was a jackass lying dead in the middle of his front lawn. 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 te yerself. This is Father O'Malley at St. Brigid's. There's a jackass lying dead in me front lawn. Would ye be so kind as to send a couple o' yer lads to take care of the matter?"   

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 last rites!"   

There was dead silence on the line for a long moment. Father O'Malley then replied: "Aye, tis certainly true, but we are also obliged to notify the next of kin.