KEY POINTS:
While most of us might fancy coasting through the last few days to retirement, Aster the police dog was busier than ever.
In the last hours of his final patrol on Monday, Aster helped catch four car thieves in Remuera.
He and his handler, Constable Kelvin Roberts, carried out what Inspector Ian Brooker of Auckland Central police described as "a copybook apprehension".
It's time for Aster to go before his back problem worsens. But his early retirement, aged six, makes an existing dilemma a little worse. There just aren't enough police dogs to go round.
Although Mr Roberts has a replacement already, 10-month-old Leroy, there are about 10 other dog handlers who would love a new recruit.
While the section's own national dog breeding programme is successful, there is sometimes a shortfall.
Now decommissioned, Aster won't be losing touch with Mr Roberts. He has been adopted by a friend who lives close to the Roberts family.
* Dog owners who think they have an animal that has what it takes to train as a police dog should phone the Auckland police dog base on (09) 579-6540.
The dogs need to be healthy purebred German shepherds, confident and happy in all surroundings, be good at retrieving, and be willing to learn.
