N.C. man keeps sheep flock as pets

APEX, N.C., March 27 (UPI) -- A flock of nearly 80 sheep was rescued from a man keeping them on the first floor of his home in downtown Apex, N.C.

Authorities arrived at the home of David Watts, after receiving a complaint of sheep grazing at the local cemetery, only to find about 80 sheep wandering about in poor health, the Raleigh News & Observer reported.

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

The sheep have been put into the custody of the Wake County Animal Care, Control and Adoption Center.

Director Michael Williams said that about half of the flock is in such poor condition they will have to be euthanized.

"A lot of them have hoof rot, and some of the females have prolapsed uteruses," Williams said. A prolapsed uterus is a condition in which a ewe's reproductive organs are hanging outside the body after it has given birth to a lamb.

Watts will face criminal charges for neglecting the sheep, police said.