A 78-year-old girl has been convicted of 30 counts of animal cruelty after police discovered a number of useless animals on her property and seized greater than 150 animals.
Ayer girl Ruth Maxant-Schulz was just lately convicted after a five-day trial. She was sentenced to 1.5 years behind bars — suspended for 2 years with the situations of no pets, no husbandry (farming), and a psychological well being analysis.
The case goes again to final February when Ayer law enforcement officials responded to a name for a well-being examine at a Taft Avenue dwelling.
When the cops arrived on the dwelling, they noticed animals roaming outdoors the property — together with two ponies, a number of goats and geese.
Officers additionally discovered a number of useless animals each inside and outside the house. There have been two useless goats on the dwelling’s entrance door and several other goats inside a room that was coated in trash, animal feces and particles.
Inside the home, officers discovered three useless child goats mendacity subsequent to one another.
Whereas looking the house for Maxant-Schulz, cops discovered two extra child goats mendacity subsequent to one another. One was useless and the opposite gave the impression to be alive, however unwell.
Officers additionally heard a canine barking from a again room, and noticed a duck strolling round the home.
When the city’s animal management officer arrived, she heard child goats making crying sounds and didn’t see any meals or water set out for them.
A couple of days later, law enforcement officials have been granted a search warrant for the house. Officers together with MSPCA-Angell Regulation Enforcement noticed related disturbing situations as earlier than.
Officers additionally discovered a canine crate with varied fowl, they usually had no entry to meals or water.
“When Tufts Veterinarians arrived, they reported that there was a likely risk to the animals’ health due to the nature of the property and the animals’ inability to access nutritious food and water,” officers wrote.
“The veterinarians believed the animals were likely in a state of neglect and therefore believed it was necessary to remove the animals from the property,” officers added.
An injured grownup goat was seen limping across the property with a damaged leg. She was handled instantly by Tufts veterinarians and faraway from the property.
The city’s well being agent was granted an administrative search warrant. Officers noticed a useless goat inside a barn on the property. On account of the observations, police have been granted a second search warrant for the barn and the remainder of the property.
Along with the livestock discovered on the property, officers noticed useless and decomposing goats and chickens.
Of the animals seized, there have been particular accidents and medical points famous — together with emaciated animals and goats with extreme abscesses and mastitis. A number of fowl seized on the property have been handled for lice.
A complete of 162 animals have been seized over the course of the 2 warrant executions, together with 91 chickens, 49 goats, 11 geese, eight geese, two ponies, and one canine. The entire animals have been eliminated by after which cared for by MSPCA-Angell.
The investigation was performed by the Middlesex District Lawyer’s Workplace, the Ayer Police Division, and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
