Man keeps 80 sheep in his house, authorities say

[darthadv]

This has some good joke material written all over it, sad sick sheep aside :

Story Highlights
• North Carolina man lives upstairs, sheep downstairs, sheriff says
• Animals' living conditions deplorable, authorities say
• About 30 animals found to be in ill health are euthanized
• Sheep were eating plastic flower arrangements from cemetery


APEX, North Carolina (AP) -- About 30 sheep being kept at a suburban home were euthanized Tuesday after some were found to have serious health problems, authorities said.

David Watts, who faces animal cruelty charges, kept about 80 of the animals in his crumbling house in Apex, a Raleigh suburb, police said.

"He lives upstairs and the sheep were living downstairs," police Sgt. Robert Towell said. "He considered them pets."

Watts even walked some of the sheep around the neighborhood on a leash.

Lambs were apparently kept inside, while grown sheep were kept outside in debris-filled pens, said Dr. Kelli Ferris, a veterinarian who examined the sheep. Workers found sheep eating plastic bags and artificial flowers from a nearby cemetery. Sheep skulls and carcasses were found in compost piles, she said.

"We're always saddened when we see animals kept in this kind of state," Ferris said. "It could have been prevented."

About 30 sheep were euthanized because of poor health, said Michael Williams, director of the Wake County Animal Care, Control and Adoption Center.

Some had severe hoof rot, paralyzed limbs and prolapsed uteruses, in which a ewe's reproductive organs hang outside the body after it has given birth, Williams said.

Watts has cooperated with investigators, said Police Chief Jack Lewis.

"A lot of times well-intentioned people get in over their head," Lewis said.

The Associated Press could not locate contact information for Watts.

Neighbors have long complained about the sheep.

"All I want is to be able to sit on my front porch and not smell sheep poop," said Angie Fowler, who lives across the street.

Mayor Keith Weatherly said the town council considered a proposal last year that would bar residents from keeping livestock, but it was never passed.

As many as 30 healthy sheep could be available for adoption, officials said.

[Heavy Metal]

..and let me guess all the sheep were fans of the Van Hagar era?

[darthadv]

[Axxman300]

Did they find Velcro gloves and over-sized rubber boots?



[the joke is that you put their hind legs into the oversized boots so they can't get away, it's a Scottish thing]

[TheresOnlyOneWay]

They found the Army headquarters.

[voivod]

They found the Army headquarters.

[ZeoBandit]

..and let me guess all the sheep were fans of the Van Hagar era?

[vhrocker]

..and let me guess all the sheep were fans of the Van Hagar era?

Now that's baaaaaaaaaaaddd.

[darthadv]

chedheads and rothtards unite!

[FORD]

They found the Army headquarters.

My condolences to your flock over the loss of your 30 relatives

[Red]

Apparently, this guy owns property in a neighboring county, and may have as many as 300 sheep there.

[Duke]

He was just another businessman.
Trying to make an quick buck, running a low price brothel for the homeless.
Packages available, and make sure to take home one of our souvenir wool hand towels.

[muffdiver]

,,

[Duke]

,,

Exactly.

[Axxman300]

The trick is to wear panty hose and cut a hole to put your junk through, that way you don't get rug burns from all of that wool.

I learned that from the Roth Army.