A conservation detection dog named Indie is seen frolicking through a field of wildflowers at golden hour. Indie passed away in 2025 from cancer, and she is deeply missed.

In Memoriam

A conservation detection dog named Indie is seen sitting in front of an alpine lake with a red harness and a colorful bandana, and she looks very stoic. Indie passed away in 2025 from cancer, and she is deeply missed.
Conservation detection dog Indie looking up at her handler Heidi Bencin with adoration in her expression. They are in a grassy field during golden hour, and the sun is shining on them. The picture was taken by Hannah Eugster.

Indie

Adopted from a county shelter in 2018, Indie was a stoic girl whose poker face could only be broken by a few people and phrases, including “let’s go find it” and “are you hungry?” She was adventurous, tenacious, gentle, and fiercely loyal. While her time with us was far too short, we find some solace in that she spent the majority of it doing what she loved most — searching for wildlife data, exploring wild places, cuddling with her favorite people, and eating snacks. Indie is deeply missed by everyone that knew her.

“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.”

– Agnes Sligh Turnbull