Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Ayer Chief of Police Brian Gill and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have announced that Ruth Maxant-Schulz, 78, of Ayer has been convicted of 30 counts of animal cruelty after a five day trial.
According to a press release, on Count 1, Maxant-Schulz was sentenced to 1 ½ years in the House of Correction, suspended for 2 years with the conditions of no pets, no husbandry (farming), and a mental health evaluation. On Counts 2-30 she was sentenced to 2 years probation to run concurrent with Count 1.
On February 20, 2024, Ayer Police Officers received a request for a well-being check at a Taft Street residence in Ayer. When they arrived at the residential property, they observed animals roaming outside the property, including two ponies, several goats and ducks. Officers discovered several deceased animals both outside and inside the home. There were two dead goats at the front door of the house and several goats inside a room that was covered in trash, animal feces and debris…