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If police dogs had trading cards, K-9 officer Yep鈥檚 would be a Mickey Mantle or a Willie Mays, a real collector鈥檚 item.

On the front would be a strikingly beautiful black-phase German Shepherd with a yellow tennis ball in her mouth. And on the back would be some very impressive lifetime statistics.

In her five years in the justice league with the Myrtle Beach Police Department, Yep is credited for 106 arrests on 515 deployments.

She had a nose for drugs and searched several hundred vehicles, while also sniffing out several missing persons.

And she made a friend for life in MBPD officer Tyler Struckus, her handler and BFF.

鈥淵ou spend more time with (your police dog) than your family,鈥� Struckus said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e with us 24 hours a day. You build a really close relationship over time.鈥�

Yep is an apprehension and drug detection dog, which means 鈥渓ots of physical work.鈥�

She eats a high-fat, high-protein diet, and weighs 74 pounds without her bullet-proof vest. She鈥檚 fearless and fleet of foot, with a firm grip that more than a few bad guys can attest to.

Struckus met Yep at a kennel in Pennsylvania, and they bonded over six weeks of intense police training. Yep was two-and-a-half years old, and ready for prime time. She鈥檚 one of five K-9 officers in the MBPD.

After her initial purchase, Yep was a bargain for Myrtle Beach taxpayers. She worked for nothing 鈥� just room and board, and a tennis ball that she got for a job well done. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 her toy; that鈥檚 her reward,鈥� Struckus said.

But now, after five years on the force, Yep may have lost a step from the wear-and-tear. Police dogs are typically taken off the field at age 8 or 9, and there are no desk jobs to transition to.

So, Yep is retiring to a life of leisure, fetch and cat naps at Struckus鈥� house.

鈥淚 want to give her a good quality of life,鈥� Struckus said of his partner and protector. 鈥淪he made me look good.鈥�

Struckus said officers with canines are given the option of adopting their dogs, an option that most choose to exercise. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know a single one who wouldn鈥檛 want to adopt their dog,鈥� he said.

While Yep is all business on the job, Struckus said she鈥檚 鈥渃hilled out鈥� at home, able to turn it off and on.

But the whole retirement thing might take some getting used to.

When Struckus put on his uniform one day last week, Yep 鈥渢ried to sneak out the door with me to come to work.鈥�

Yep will be missed around the MBPD annex at Market Commons.

Her retirement party was well-attended. She got a plaque, a 60-pack of tennis balls and government benefits. The city will pay for her medical care and food for the rest of her life.

While Yep is retiring, Struckus will stay on the job. He鈥檒l be picking up his next partner 鈥� an 18-month old Dutch shepherd 鈥� at that kennel in Pennsylvania later this month.

鈥淗e鈥檚 still got a little puppy in him,鈥� Struckus said of his new partner and future pet.