CORRECTION

A story Wednesday in the City & State section incorrectly summarized Trish Creta's comments to the Apex Town Council. She asked why the town waited years to enforce a public nuisance ordinance against a neighbor keeping sheep in his backyard.

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APEX -- Livestock is no longer welcome here.

The Apex Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to ban almost all barnyard animals except horses from the town in an effort to keep anyone from repeating David Watts' recent feat of keeping 77 sheep in and around his suburban home.

Though Watts, 47, did not attend the town council meeting, his presence was felt. His next-door neighbor Trish Creta stood up to ask why the council waited years to enact the ban even though they knew the smell of Watts' animals had been an ongoing problem for the residents of West Moore Street.

"I don't understand why it's gotten to this level," Creta said. "I think I deserve answers because I haven't been able to use my backyard."

Town officials let Watts keep the animals on his 0.38-acre parcel near downtown Apex for years because they believed he kept the sheep and chickens as pets, not as part of an illegal city farming operation. Town zoning officials chalked up complaints about the smell of animal droppings and flies to a culture clash between Watts and his suburban neighbors.

Town leaders decided that position was a mistake last week, after Wake County Animal Control officers seized Watts' sheep from his ramshackle house at 205 W. Moore St. and charged him with animal cruelty.

On Tuesday, Mayor Keith Weatherly apologized to Watts' neighbors and called the situation "inexcusable."

The council then moved fast to enact the livestock ban. There was little debate and no opposition, and they quickly agreed to enact the ban beginning June 1.

They left the tougher animal questions for later, such as whether a pet Vietnamese pot-bellied pig or an ornamental swan should be allowed.