Condemnation Deadline Relaxed for Suburban Shepherd

Apex, N.C. — Town officials have eased off a Tuesday deadline for a man to clean up a home where animal control officers seized more than 70 neglected sheep last month.

Inspectors found holes in the ceiling, broken windows and no running water on the first floor of the house that David Watts owns at 205 W. Moore St.

Watts was given until Tuesday to fix the structural issues. The town also ordered him to remove animal carcasses and bones from around the house and to scrape the ground clean to eliminate the smell.

Officials said Watts is making progress in clearing debris from the property, however, and they decided to wait before hiring a contractor for the cleanup or pursuing a lien against the property.

On March 26, police found 78 sheep living inside and outside of Watts' house near downtown Apex.He has been charged with 30 counts of animal cruelty after 30 of the sheep were euthanized because they were severely ill.

The Apex Town Council has approved a new ordinance banning all livestock, with the exception of horses, within the town limits. It takes effect June 1.