Angel the beloved Christmas donkey is tragically mauled to death by roaming dogs 

‘She was a perfect princess’: Angel the beloved Christmas donkey is tragically mauled to death by a roaming pack of dogs

  • Angel, a pet donkey, was attacked by a pack of roaming dogs outside a church
  • She had severe injuries to her legs and her backside and her ears were mangled 
  • Her owners were forced to make the heart-breaking decision to put her down 

A church community is in mourning after their much-loved pet donkey was savagely mauled to death by a pack of roaming dogs.

Angel was found dying on Christmas Day at the back of St Matthews Anglican Church in Morrinsville, on New Zealand’s North Island.

She had severe injuries to her legs and her backside and her ears were mangled.

Angel, the donkey, was found dying on Christmas Day at the back of St Matthews Anglican Church in Morrinsville, on New Zealand’s North Island

A church community is mourning after their much-loved pet donkey was savagely mauled to death by a pack of roaming dogs

A church community is mourning after their much-loved pet donkey was savagely mauled to death by a pack of roaming dogs

Her owner Val Riches told Stuff she suspects a pack of roaming dogs had squeezed under the gate where she was kept and attacked.

The heart-wrenching decision was made to euthanize her.

Angel had suffered for hours before she was discovered after a Christmas Day church service and Ms Riches thought it was the kindest option.

The ‘sweet yet sassy pet’ was the much-loved mascot for the church.

The 'sweet yet sassy pet' was the much-loved mascot for the church in Morrinsville, on new Zealand's north island

The ‘sweet yet sassy pet’ was the much-loved mascot for the church in Morrinsville, on new Zealand’s north island

‘She liked company. She thought she was a princess. She would go around our place and tell the horses that she was boss.’ 

Ms Riches has now raised safety concerns after the incident. 

‘I do think for them to have hunted her down and savage her like that, I think it is a concern for safety.

‘She wouldn’t have been running around, she wouldn’t have been exciting them.’

The local council and police have been notified of the attack.

Her owner Val Riches said she suspects a pack of roaming dogs had squeezed under the gate where she was kept and attacked (stock image)

Her owner Val Riches said she suspects a pack of roaming dogs had squeezed under the gate where she was kept and attacked (stock image)



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