BOONE, N.C. -- The Boone Police Department is retiring one of its K9s.

Alex is suffering from arthritis and has an ACL injury after four years of sniffing out drugs and tracking and taking down suspects.

His handler says he misses him.

"When I get out of the police department I always talk to him, ‘Hey buddy I'm back,’ and reaching back and he's not there. That's the hardest part just not having him there,” said Corporal Andrew Smith

Smith says Alex will gets lots of love and treats during his retirement.