SALISBURY — Rex, one of the K-9s at the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, has retired from duty after six years on the force.

A retirement ceremony was held on Monday in the lobby of the sheriff’s office where members of the department came to say goodbye to Rex before his handler, Corporal Patrick Michael, took him for his last ride in a police vehicle.

“One thing that I’ve greatly had a lot of pride in is the K-9 program,” Sheriff Travis Allen said. “It’s all because of good handlers and good dogs.”

Rex, an eight-year-old Chocolate Labrador Retriever, joined the sheriff’s office in January 2018 to locate narcotics, missing persons, fugitives and pieces of evidence.

Michael has been Rex’s handler for three years and he will be taking Rex home to live with him so that he can enjoy his retirement to the fullest.

“Just hanging out with the family and eating and chilling at the house,” Michael said.

Michael described initially partnering with Rex as a “last-minute thing” after his previous handler had left the department.

“It was kind of a surprise and just all of a sudden. He took to me and it worked out,” Michael said.

Rex’s last shift was on Thursday, March 21. When asked what he’ll miss most about working alongside Rex, Michael said, “His goofiness. I could open the partition between me and him, the kennel, and he would just sit there and listen to the radio and just ride around.”

The decision to retire Rex mainly came down to health reasons and to ensure he is physically able to make the most out of his retirement.

“Rex is starting to slow down and his age is starting to show; joint issues and stuff. We retire them when they’re still in decent health. You don’t want to run them into the ground,” Michael said.

Allen explained how much of a physical and mental toll the job has on their K-9s.

“I know how much training these dogs do and they’re just not the dog who sits around the house. How many times they jump in and out of that car every day. How many training exercises and tough terrain they go through. Their bodies, in six to eight years, are really put through it,” Allen said. “They have stress, just like these humans would have, too, in performing that job.”

At the end of the ceremony, Rex was gifted a plaque and a farewell cake that he gulped down right off the floor.

“We really appreciate his service,” Allen said.