Suffolk County DA's Comfort Dog, Indy, Dies Months After Retirement

BOSTON, MA — Just four months after his retirement, a comfort dog who previously worked for the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office has died.

Indy joined the DA's office in 2014, and was the first so-called facility dog working in a government office in New England. The golden retriever would support victims of crimes, children and other vulnerable people as they navigated the criminal justice system.

"Indy was a source of comfort for hundreds of survivors and a beloved member of our office. He'll be sorely missed," the Suffolk DA said in a tweet Monday.

Indy retired in August at age 10. He was replaced by Benjamin, a 2-year-old lab mix. Both were trained by the California-based nonprofit Canine Companions, which provides service dogs to people with a wide range of needs.

Facility dogs like Benjamin and Indy work onsite in "rehabilitation, healthcare, education and courtroom settings" to provide comfort to people experiencing stress, according to the nonprofit.

Facility dogs have become more common since Indy came on the scene. Institutions ranging from Northampton police to Sudbury Public Schools offer support with canines.