Ba-a-a-d joke draws neighboring town's comment

The Apex sheep saga has settled down to jokes and comments and life goes on. Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly appeared on a radio show this week and cracked a joke that this sort of problem might be expected in Holly Springs but not in Apex. To his surprise the Holly springs Mayor Dick Sears came back with "Well, you know, he's a jerk." Later after Weatherly called to apologize Sears calmed down and suggested it should all be left in Apex.

Animal protection representatives have visited the second farm owned by the man found to be keeping sheep in his home in Apex and determined that animals there were lacking for attention but the situation did not rise to animal cruelty. The saga of keeping animals in the Apex house is settling down and the owner is being viewed as a bit eccentric and that he was overwhelmed by having so many sheep born that he simply couldn't take care of them all. Time will tell when his case is resolved and the issue repeats itself or goes away.

News and Observer
March 31, 2007
Toby Coleman and David Bracken, Staff Writers

Mayor's ba-a-a-d joke

Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly responded to news that a man was keeping a flock of sheep in his downtown Apex house with a lot of jokes.

He even went on WRAL-FM's "Bill and Sheri in the Morning" show Tuesday to face baaas and a bunch of cracks.

He respond-ed with what he said was a lighthearted jab at a neighboring town: "Very frankly, you might expect this sort of thing in Holly Springs, but ... it was a surprise to us in Apex."

That didn't play well in Holly Springs.

"Well, you know, he's a jerk," said Holly Springs Mayor Dick Sears on Wednesday morning.

Sears cooled down later in the day after Weatherly called him to apologize. He said that he no longer thought Weatherly was a jerk.

"You just shouldn't do those kind of things," Sears said. "If the joke was on Apex the whole show, then leave it on Apex."

"If anybody took that as a serious commentary they missed the point and that's unfortunate," Weatherly said later.

"I certainly didn't mean to demean the good people of Holly Springs," the mayor added. "That would be ludicrous."

More on Apex sheep owner - charges filed

The owner of the abused animals has been charged. David Watts has been formally charged with cruelty to animals and is being held in the Wake County jail.

Read the latest report...

News and Observer
March 28, 2007
Michael Biesecker and Toby Coleman, Staff Writers

Sheep owner charged with 30 cruelty counts

APEX - The suburban shepherd who shared his downtown Apex house with 77 sheep has been charged with 30 counts of cruelty to animals.

David Watts was being held this morning in the Wake jail in lieu of $30,000 bond.

On Tuesday, Watts denied in an interview that he had abused his flock. He said that so many lambs were born this year that he was a little overwhelmed. Read more...

More on saga of neglected Apex sheep

A second report reveals more on the life and troubles of the sheep owned by David Watts of Apex. He claims "so many lambs were born this year that he was a little overwhelmed, but denied he abused his flock." It would seem more like he wasn't able to provided adequate care all along and isn't up to facing reality. The veterinarians remarks indicate "some in the flock showed signs of serious neglect that had been continuing for many months, probably years."

Following the rescue at the Apex house police and animal care personnel visited his farm in Chatham County they found a smaller group of animals that were in reasonably normal condition for the most part. Watts claims he planned to eventually move the neglected sheep to the farm but didn't get around to it.

Read the latest report with remarks from the veterinarian that helped with the rescue operation...

News and Observer
March 28, 2007
Michael Biesecker and Toby Coleman, Staff Writers

Lambs just kept coming, owner says
77 sheep seized; 60 more are found

APEX - The suburban shepherd who shared his downtown Apex house with 77 sheep said that so many lambs were born this year that he was a little overwhelmed, but denied he abused his flock.

"It was just bad timing for me," David Watts said Tuesday. "I just got hit with the extra animals this year that needed extra supervision."

Veterinarian Kelli Ferris, who examined the sheep that Watts surrendered to Wake County animal control officers Monday, said that some in the flock showed signs of serious neglect that had been continuing for many months, probably years.

So far, 30 of the sheep have been euthanized after it was determined they were too sick to recover. Read more...

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...