Beloved San Joaquin County Sheriff K-9 Axel retiring to chase balls instead of suspects

WHILE OTHER GERMAN SHEPHERDS roamed backyards or barked at mail carriers, Axel was out hunting down illegal narcotics and going on search-and-rescue missions.

Now after five years as a loyal trained companion to a deputy in the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office (that’s 40 in “dog years”), Axel is heading into a well-earned retirement.