HARTVILLE, Ohio (WOIO) - Police arrested a Canton woman who reportedly went shopping while leaving her puppy to die in a hot car.

Court records show Tawana Cox, 49, was charged with cruelty to animals and falsification.

According to the criminal complaint, Cox left the six-to-eight-week-old puppy inside her car without water or air while she went shopping on July 28.

The temperature was 90 degrees.

Police said surveillance video showed Cox was away from the vehicle for over an hour.

She allegedly told police the puppy was with her, stuffed inside her shirt, but police said surveillance video showed otherwise.

Cox was arrested on Monday and was released from the Stark County Jail on $2,500 bond.

She will be arraigned on Wednesday.

Copyright 2025 WOIO. All rights reserved.

See Full Page