Dead chickens dumped at Pa. cemetery

READING, Pa. - Febraury 21, 2012 (WPVI) -- The bodies of dozens of dead chickens have been found dumped at a Pennsylvania cemetery that's had similar incidents in the past.

Officials say more than 20 shopping bags filled with dead chickens were dumped at Aulenbach's Cemetery on Sunday night.

Cemetery caretaker Sandy Stief says the bags appear to have been tossed out randomly. Other chickens had been dumped Friday at the cemetery on the border of Reading and Mount Penn.

Humane society officials say the chickens' heads had been cut off. The animals had apparently been killed as part of a religious ritual.

The Humane Society of Berks County Inc. says such ritual animal slaughter is protected by the First Amendment. Police say littering charges could be filed if they find out who dumped the remains.

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