Reunited with his dog (Decorated Vietnam Vet Arrested #6)

SOLANA BEACH -- Robert Thomas Northcut, a homeless man who has walked the city's streets for a decade, got a little impatient yesterday as he waited to be reunited with his dog.

"All I want is my damn dog back," he repeated while crouching in front of the Do-It-Yourself Dog Wash. A couple of his Solana Beach friends, including Chris Tatum, owner of the dog wash, were there to wait with him.

He relaxed when T.J., his German shepherd, arrived from the animal shelter in Carlsbad, where the dog had been held since last week.

"I got him back," Northcut said as he walked T.J. -- or T.J. walked him -- along Acacia Avenue. "Everything's fine now."

Yesterday, the county's Dangerous Dog Task Force decided it would not issue a notice declaring the dog a public nuisance for barking and lunging at city and transit workers in Solana Beach. County animal control officers say T.J. bit a man in May.

Lt. Dean Maier, the animal control officer who made the final decision, could not be reached yesterday for comment.

Lt. Danielle Spilker, who previously handled the case, said she wasn't sure why the task force chose to release the dog.

"Usually when they release them at this point, there's not enough of a case," Spilker said.

Northcut, 49, was arrested last week on outstanding warrants. He had been cited earlier for trespassing on a city-owned median where a World War II memorial sits. Northcut, who said he's a Navy veteran, and T.J. had set up camp beside the concrete memorial on Plaza Street near South Coast Highway 101.

T.J. was taken to the county animal shelter in Carlsbad when his owner was arrested. Although Northcut was released after a few days, the dog was held until the task force could further examine the case.

Jennifer Lynch, a Vista attorney who appeared in court on Northcut's behalf, paid a $25 impound fee and a $17 licensing fee to release the dog. The money had been donated by the public. Residents and veterans who wanted to help had flooded her office with calls and e-mails.

"I'm not sure why (the task force) released the dog," Lynch said. "I can only hope that people's concern helped in getting the dog back sooner rather than later."

Northcut admits his dog has bitten people. He says T.J. is "feisty" and protective of his master. The dog had been abused before being rescued in Tijuana and nursed back to health by Northcut and Tatum.

"We don't want any more problems," Tatum said as T.J. tried to knock the muzzle off with a paw. "He'll just bounce around for a little while, but he's going to get used to it."

I have ignored you up till now in the hopes you would find some manners and gracefully leave these threads where you spend most of your time being rude.

Comments like this from you

"YOU ARE A LIAR and a complete fool. your continuous flaming and distortions prove you to be a complete idiot, here to disrupt not to stay on the argument.?"

Is how YOU have been on these threads and the only arguments are what you and a couple of others have started. If you don't like what a thread is about, you DONT BUMP IT TO THE TOP as you keep doing and since you don't agree with the majority on these threads I can only conclude you are here to disrupt. You made your point long ago but you keep coming back to start crap. It is you that looks like an idiot. Now find another thread to disrupt please.

From thread #3 the first one you posted on
To: B4Ranch
this guy was a drunken derelict,
HE WAS GUARDING NOTHING!!!
he needed help -
maybe his arrest will bring him some.
134 posted on 11/6/01 3:30 PM Pacific by NAMMARINE
To: NAMMARINE

Where is your proof?
Bring a link and show where you found this out!
135 posted on 11/6/01 3:33 PM Pacific by usmcobra

To: usmcobra
"Where is your proof?"
"Bring a link and show where you found this out!"
the "LINK" is the ARREST report for - TRESSPASSING!!!!
137 posted on 11/6/01 3:45 PM Pacific by NAMMARINE

To: B4Ranch
Sorry, but you have your "facts" fowled up.
Sam Georges told me that Northcut doesn't drink.
If he did Sam would not be fighting for him.
the "facts" are this LOONEY tune was GUARDING NOTHING-PERIOD
and was arrested for trespassing - he needed help!!!
141 posted on 11/6/01 3:49 PM Pacific by NAMMARINE

To:NAMMARINE
Come on you can do better than that
Engage your brain housing group and re-read the article!
They arrested him only after they put up the two foot square sign!
And The Judge (a VET) let him go!
Don't you think the Judge saw proof that he was a VET and not just some drunk pretending to be one?
The Judge must have seen something you did not!
142 posted on 11/6/01 3:54 PM Pacific by usmcobra

To: usmcobra
"The Judge must have seen something you did not!
no, he saw a helpless,homeless man in dire need of help.
whether he was a drunk or not is irrevelant.
this guy and many derelicts like him need help and do not belong on the streets.
145 posted on 11/6/01 3:58 PM Pacific by NAMMARINE

To: NAMMARINE
So the help The Judge gave him was to turn him out on the streets again?
Come on! All you are doing is Bumping this thread and looking like a fool for your comments
So far your arguments have not been based on facts but on a few words intended to show your hate for this man!
Sad! just Sad! 153 posted on 11/6/01 4:08 PM Pacific by usmcobra

Shorly after this exchange you went to the How shall we say verbal abuse card.
and Had your post ripped from the thread.
I ain't ashamed of questioning what you said
or of how I did it!

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