COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Collier County has suspended its Road Dogs program after the death of a shelter dog found inside a county vehicle last week. The program, launched a year ago, allowed county employees to bring shelter dogs along on daily work assignments in hopes of finding them permanent homes.
Read More
The county is conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances of the dog's death and accountability. Details about the investigation, including who is leading it and which vehicle was involved, remain undisclosed as the county has not responded to multiple inquiries from WINK News.
Residents have expressed concern over the incident. John Richerts commented, "I don't understand how that could really happen. If you take a dog out, you should be able to take responsibility for taking care of that dog." Another neighbor, Michael Adcox, remarked, "It's a sad day for the dogs. It's a good program. It's really sad to see something like this happen. They’re helping a lot of animals, so we just hope that it gets straightened out."
WINK News also reached out to the Collier County Sheriff's Office regarding any possible investigation by deputies. A spokesperson indicated uncertainty about their involvement and suggested that a records request be submitted. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.