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

www.sandiegouniontribune.com ^ | November 9, 2001 | STAFF WRITER Dana Littlefield

[B4Ranch]

Homeless man is pleased to be reunited with his dog

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.

When Lynch arrived with the dog yesterday, Tatum promptly muzzled him.

"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."

[Native American Female Vet]

hand me another tissue please..... What a good looking dog and Mr Nothcut looks so happy.

[B4Ranch]

You're darn right it's nice to win. I think the Mayors will be telling this story for years to come about how they messed up screwing with a guy who is not a drug addict, a thief, or a drunk, just happened to be a homeless MARINE COMBAT VETERAN with lots of friends.

I doubt if I have spent $10.00 in phone calls so far. Maybe 15 emails to various departments. So looking back, it was quite easy to help a man that I'd never met but who served his country and needed a hand.

Thank you to everyone who took a few minutes to help get Northcut and TJ back together again.

[calypgin]

Good job, kudos sent. Gratifying to see phone call/email was not *for naught*...

[RnMomof7]

I wouldn't FR mail you about this..I really do understand what you are saying...in NY State they deinstitutionalized the mentally ill 20+ years ago..no one is in an institution any more..all our mentally ill clients are basically on the street..his picture told me all I need to know about him... he is most likely a very sick man...but he isnt living on the street to bother you or me...or to clutter up our landscape....He is not capable of caring for himself..his mind is to cluttered with real and imagined nightmares to function

So what do we do with him? I say this is America..He is not only a citizen but a vet..he has a right to live however he chooses as long as he does not endanger others...

I hope FR can help with more than his dog...find a group home ,and someone to watch over him (In NY we have "case managers" for folks like him)

We owe him a debt. The bible asks does a father give his son a stone when he asks for bread...How much more does your heavenly Father give us good gifts..

We need to repay this man for the loss of his life (He is dead you know,Marine)with bread,not a stone!

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

"Everyone:
Please send Jennifer Lynch and Sam Georges a Thank you note at JLL@jllynch.com. It is people like her and Sam Georges who help us take care of our buddies. They never expect a Thank You from anyone. So to show that you appreciate their help and that they care too. Just say a short Thanks to both of them. JLL@jllynch.com "
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Thanks - for the info !!

[redrock]

Sometimes.....the GOOD GUYS win.

redrock

[Norb2569]

Wow, what greater proof of FReeper Power is there!!

Whoopeeeeeeee!!! As a dog owner who is really attached to hios dog, I know Mr. Northcutt feels much better now.

A big thanks to you, B4, for bringing this story to light and gettin' the job done - right!

Semper Fi,
Norb

[RnMomof7]

No I think you are concerned too..we can do both..keep the babies safe and give this man some dignity..

The dog is muzzled now......lets go from there. I think you care about him too..you just have a different solution..

[lonevoice]

B4Ranch, thanks so much for the ping. You can ping me from now through Veterans Day on this one and I'll be happy. I could read this last article and look at those pictues a hundred times. Not many things inspire happy tears, but this one did. Thanks for all your effort.

We need to repay this man for the loss of his life (He is dead you know,Marine). RnMomo, this gave me chills. I've lost a few loved ones who had the 1,000-yard stare. Not all of these men can be reached. It is OUR turn to protect THEM.

Bless you all

[RnMomof7]

I am afraid to ask if you still root for the Bills..so I won't *grin* We are in South Buffalo..sooner or later we will be driven out of here by the liberals:>) ......

God bless ya

[MistyCA]

Nam, I looked at the picture of Northcut and TJ and immediately thought of another Nam Vet I know who looks a lot like him. My friend works, but he finds it difficult to get as much work as he needs to survive well. You see, he came back with hearing loss and has balance issues as a result. He is the best carpenter you can imagine, and I have hired him often to do work around my house. I worry when he is on the ladder because I know his balance is off. I have to shout when I talk to him because he can hear so little. He tries to live like normal people but the cost of an apartment, utilities and groceries, gas for his car, insurance, and all of the expenses we have makes it difficult. A few years ago he (and his wife) started living in their truck. They saved up and finally got an old motorhome that he made repairs to. His wife had worked until a car accident left her crippled. Now she has disability benefits. Both are a bit slow, but I know him well and he works hard. They saved up their money and were able to buy a motorhome that is newer, and they help manage the park where they stay to keep costs down. He also has a skin condition that has been attributed to agent orange. One time he lost his balance on a construction job and fired a nail through his foot with a nailing gun. His wife, who was working with him doing the lumber cutting, pulled the nail out and he continued working. Last I saw him they were about to lose the motorhome because they just couldn't make ends meet.

I have watched that couple struggle now for years, and because of circumstances beyond their control (healthwise) they have been up and down but never really make headway. They are the next step from where Northcut is. What I would like to know is, who are you to pretend to know what his capabilities are? Who are you to judge whatever his physical or mental state is? Good Lord, wouldn't it be wonderful if we really did all stand on equal footing? But we don't. We never will. We just all do the best we can with what we have. Yes, there are those who just can't seem to get it together, and there are those who just throw it all away. But I think you should know that when you start sorting through nails, you don't throw them all in the same bucket. Nails are way less complex than people.

[RnMomof7]

I know....all we can do is our best. sometimes in our human efforts to help someone we end up hurting them..but we have to try

In the best of all possible worlds I would have this man in a supervised living situation,where he could keep his dog and come and go during the day as he would like. And he should be under the care of a Vets hospital.....But what you and I both know that usually PTSS victims usually dont want to be in such a situation..they want the security of the street..of being nameless and usually alone..

Pray for him huh? And for those in authority to use wisdom in helping him.

[RnMomof7]

nah ive taken up for another loosing team-LOL

LOL ..my team is worse than your team..(that is a safe bet :>)