Sad day for abused sheep in Apex

This was truly a sad day for sheep living in a house in Apex...

When the police were called on a bright spring Monday morning about a flock of sheep grazing in the town cemetery they knew right where to go. A dilapidated old 1910 home next to the cemetery was being shared by David Watts with his flock of some 80 sheep. They lived in and around the first floor, on the porch, in fenced off areas under tarps and trees and virtually all around the property. He lived on the second floor of the house, apparently alone.

Mr. Watts could be seen occasionally walking some of his sheep on leashes in the neighborhood surrounding the house and cemetery. Neighbors had called police and animal protection personnel numerous times about the foul smell in the neighborhood but until now no one could justify taking the animals away from him. He will now face criminal charges and is to blame for some thirty or more having to be euthanized due to severe sickness and untreatable conditions.

The town has previously tried to draft an ordinance to prevent keeping livestock in residential neighborhoods but had not been able to produce a draft draft a plan that could be approved before this tragedy ocurred.

Read the complete report...

News and Observer
March 27, 2007
Michael Biesecker and Benjamin Niolet, Staff Writers

80 sheep weren't flock, but roomies

APEX - When Apex police got the call early Monday that wayward sheep were grazing on the floral arrangements in the town cemetery, they didn't have to guess where the animals had come from.

On an adjacent downtown property, a short stroll from the quaint restaurants and art galleries lining Salem Street, David Watts had long shared his crumbling house with what authorities say was a flock of about 80 sheep.

"He lives upstairs, and the sheep were living downstairs," Apex Police Sgt. Robert Towell said. "He considered them pets." Read more...