An Ohio woman who lived much of her life as an animal lover may have died a dog killer.

Sandra Lertzman, 62, was found dead along with 31 of her dogs, many of them puppies, in a running car in the garage of her Moreland Hills home on Monday.

Investigators told WOIO that they found a suicide note in the house and several prescription vials in the vehicle. It wasn't clear how she and the pups died.

One of the dogs managed to survive by finding a small opening in the garage where it could breathe, authorities said.

Police said one of the dogs managed to escape from the car and survived.

Police said one of the dogs managed to escape from the car and survived.

Lertzman was the executive director of the Animal Rights Foundation and, according to the group's website, had been involved in animal rescue for almost 40 years.

"She was an animal lover. She feeds deer, dogs. She boarded dogs several years ago," a neighbor, who did not want to be identified, told WOIO.

There were also several cats inside the house that have been taken in by a caretaker. The lone surviving pooch was given to a family member.