Hunter Walterman
•9/16/2026
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—Collier County suspended a program designed to give shelter dogs a day out after one of the animals was found dead inside a county vehicle.
The county announced the Road Dogs program one year ago. County employees would take shelter dogs out with them for the day, bringing them to job sites and neighborhoods in hopes of finding them a forever home.
Collier County says one of the Road Dogs died in a county vehicle late last week. The county says there is an investigation to determine what happened and who is responsible.
The program is now suspended. WINK News reached out to the county multiple times with detailed questions, including who is investigating, who discovered the dog and what vehicle it was in.
The county did not answer those questions. Staff at Domestic Animal Services, where the dogs come from, pointed WINK News to communications staff.
Neighbors are wondering how this could have happened.
"I don't understand how that could really happen," John Richerts said. "I mean, if you take a dog out, you should be able to take responsibility of taking care of that dog."
"It's a sad day for the dogs," Michael Adcox said. "It's a good program. It's really sad to see something like this happen in there. You know, 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. A spokeswoman says she doesn't know if deputies are investigating and asked WINK News to make a records request, which was submitted.
The investigation into what led to the dog's death continues.
