Wagoner - A woman has been arrested on a complaint of animal cruelty. Her dog died after officials say it was left inside a hot car at Toppers Recreational Area in Wagoner County.

It can happen so fast. In this case, it was a rat terrier that was left inside, locked in a hot car for at least three hours. The owner was on a boat on the lake.

Nicole Zipfel posted bond Tuesday, two days after being arrested after lakegoers complained about a small dog, desperately trying to get out of a locked, hot car.

Wagoner County Sheriff Bob Colbert describes the disturbing details.

"There was obvious trauma, scratching, saliva marks on the window where the dog was trying to escape from the vehicle," Colbert says. "There was no water in the vehicle for the dog to drink. And, outside the temperatures were 95 degrees at the time."

We read over several of the witness statements today, including one from a man who said he saw the dog dead and was so disturbed that he agreed to take the dog home to bury it.

So far, Zipfel has not been charged in the case.

 Email To Friend