K9 Pax, who first joined the Centralia Police Department in November 2017 and is now 8 years old, will be retired during the Tuesday, Jan. 14, Centralia City Council meeting, according to the council’s agenda report.

Typically, a police service dog works on average seven to nine years before being retired, the report added.  The dog will be retired by being declared surplus property for the city, and his handler — Centralia Police Officer Ruben Ramirez — will be allowed to purchase K9 Pax from the city for $1.

Ramirez has worked exclusively with K9 Pax since 2017.

The official retirement date for Pax will be Jan. 31, 2025.

K9 Pax’s retirement is due to a medical issue. The dog has been diagnosed with masticatory myositis, an immune system disorder that causes the dog’s immune system to attack its masticatory muscles, or the jaw muscles.

The exact cause of this disorder is unknown, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. Symptoms can include pain for the dog when opening its jaw, difficulty eating, chewing and picking up toys, excessive drooling, sunken or protruding eyes, lethargy and vocal changes.

While there is no cure, treatment can be administered to address symptoms and K9 Pax has been receiving treatment for his condition, the agenda report added.

Masticatory myositis can occur in any breed of dog, although it is known to occur more frequently in several breeds, including Belgian malinois and German shepherds, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. 

The Centralia Police K9 Association will pay for Pax’s replacement using donations.