When John and Tish Deus met Jim Dooley and Norton a few years ago, they were impressed. So much so that they wanted to help take care of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office canine. 

“We like him and he’s French,” John Deus said of the Belgium Malinois on Thursday as he and his wife presented Dooley, a KCSO patrol deputy, with a $500 check. “We like to support Norton.” 

The Coeur d’Alene couple met the K-9 unit at the North Idaho Fair when it was performing demonstrations. They were intrigued by the canine’s talents and lineage, and that it was the oldest police dog at the KCSO. They donated $500 then and plan to make it an annual gift. 

The funds will go toward new gear for the fierce but friendly dog. Dooley said while Norton’s food and care is paid for by the KCSO, his gear is funded through donations. 

“It breaks down and is beat up pretty bad,” Dooley said.  

He and Norton have been a team for years. The canine, described as “super social,” lives with Dooley and his family.  

Today, Norton is 7 ½ years old. Dooley said the dog likely has less than a year left of active service. 

Dooley said Norton has been exceptional at patrol, tracking, drug detection and evidence collection.  

Norton was brought in for an investigation and found a gun buried under two feet of gravel at a gravel pit. 

“We’re talking about five acres of gravel,” Dooley said. “We sent him out there and he found it in about 10 minutes.” 

There is also a family tie between Norton and John and Tish Deus. Their grandson, Pierre Laborde Lagrave, who was on hand for Thursday’s presentation, is also French. 

“That kind of creates a link,” a smiling John Deus said.