A 78-year-old woman has been convicted of 30 counts of animal cruelty after police found several dead animals on her property and seized more than 150 animals.

Ayer woman Ruth Maxant-Schulz was recently convicted after a five-day trial. She was sentenced to 1.5 years behind bars — suspended for two years with the conditions of no pets, no husbandry (farming), and a mental health evaluation.

The case goes back to last February when Ayer police officers responded to a call for a well-being check at a Taft Street home.

When the cops arrived at the home, they spotted animals roaming outside the property — including two ponies, several goats and ducks.

Officers also found several dead animals both outside and inside the home. There were two dead goats at the home’s front door and several go

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