JACKSON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Jackson woman was arrested for OWI after police say she drove drunk to the police department in an effort to get back her cats that were seized in a prior encounter.

A local hospital asked the police to check the welfare of a 65-year-old woman who had spinal surgery earlier in March and was canceling follow-up appointments. A nurse was concerned after the woman sounded impaired on the phone.

Officers arrived at the woman's house on March 21. The woman refused to open the door at first. Officers located a dead cat inside of the woman's vehicle.

The woman eventually agreed to open the door and police found debris, boxes, and other household items scattered around. Police say the woman was impaired by painkillers and said she was depressed by the death of a friend.

When asked about the cat, the woman said that it was mean to her other cat so she strangled it.

The other two cats were turned over to the Washington County Humane Society.

The woman was released from the hospital and drove to the police department on March 22 to ask for her cats back. The woman failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for operating while under the influence.

A few days later, the woman sent a card to the police department thanking the officers because their interventions caused her to reassess how she was living.