A police dog in Halifax named Steeler is hanging up his collar after eight years on duty and more than 200 arrests.

Following an eight-year career as a general service dog specializing in explosive detection with the Halifax Regional Police鈥檚 K9 Unit, Steeler celebrated his last day with the force on Monday with a special doggy cake.

鈥淗e鈥檚 allowed to socialize with people in the neighbourhood, he鈥檚 allowed to go on long walks, sleep on the couch and just enjoy life,鈥� Const. Phil MacDonald, with the Halifax Regional Police鈥檚 K9 Unit and Steeler鈥檚 owner, told 麻豆影视 Channel on Monday.

During his time in the police force, Steeler is credited with apprehending more than 200 suspects and worked several special events, where he met Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former president George W. Bush and members of the Royal Family.

Steeler also spent four years performing at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, an annual show in Halifax featuring marching bands, bagpipes, highland dancing and other acts.

鈥淚t was nice to be a representative of Nova Scotia and Halifax for the people that are visiting,鈥� MacDonald said.

Steeler participated in dozens of school demonstrations as a way of building a positive relationship between the community and the local police.

鈥淗e鈥檚 been a bit for a poster child for our section鈥ecause he has the right personality to do that,鈥� MacDonald said. 鈥淧eople see him as a loving dog and a dog that is certainly capable of the police work that鈥檚 required of him.鈥�

Since December 2017, Steeler has been semi-retired and only worked as an explosive detection dog while MacDonald trained his replacement, Morgan.

鈥淗opefully (Morgan will) grow into being the same type of pup that (Steeler) is, and enjoy the same type of successes that he鈥檚 had in his career,鈥� said MacDonald.

MacDonald and Steeler will remain close as they will live together with Morgan. Still, MacDonald says there will be a loss without Steeler by his side all the time.

鈥淲e鈥檝e experienced every type of call together,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit of a marriage of sorts, so to let that go -- even though there鈥檚 another dog to take his place -- it鈥檚 something that we鈥檒l miss.鈥�