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DA: Ayer woman charged with 30 counts of animal cruelty after 162 animals seized from property

Ruth Maxant-Schulz, 77, was arraigned Monday.

April 8, 2024

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A 77-year-old Ayer woman was arraigned Monday on 30 counts of animal cruelty after 162 animals were seized by authorities from her property in February.

Ruth Maxant-Schulz was arraigned in Ayer District Court, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office. She pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to The Boston Globe.

Prosecutors allege that on Feb. 20, Ayer police received a request for a well-being check at Maxant-Schulz’s property and when they arrived, they saw animals roaming outside, including ponies, goats, and ducks. Officials say police also discovered dead goats at the front door of the house and saw inside the home that there were several other goats in the room, filled with trash, animal feces, and debris.

Inside, the police officers allegedly found three dead baby goats and while searching for Maxant-Schulz, they found another dead baby goat and another that appeared to be unwell, according to the DA’s office. A dog and a duck were also found in the home. An Ayer Animal Control Officer who responded to the home did not find any food or water set out for the baby goats.

Police later returned to the property with warrants to search the home and barn. During the searches, the DA’s office said officers found “various fowl” in a dog crate with no food or water, a goat limping with a broken leg, and dead and decomposing goats and chickens.

“Of the animals seized from the property, there were specific injuries and medical issues noted, including emaciated animals and goats with severe abscesses and mastitis,” the DA’s office. “Several fowl seized on property were treated for lice.”

Ultimately, 162 animals — 49 goats, 91 chickens, 11 ducks, 8 geese, 2 ponies, and 1 dog — were seized by authorities.

Maxant-Schulz was released on her own personal recognizance on Monday but was ordered to have no possession of animals, no work with animals, no living with animals, and no unsupervised contact with animals by the judge, the DA’s office said. She also surrendered all her rights to the animals seized from her property.

She will return to Ayer District Court on June 20 for a pretrial hearing.