Help Pours In For Homeless Veteran Living In Tent Near Clinton

Volunteers in Western Oklahoma are stepping up for a 55-year-old homeless veteran and his dog, and in a big way. 

Charles Barton and his Chow-Nikita mix named “Roxy” have been together for nearly four years.  For the past four months, they’ve been living in a tent not far from I-40 near Clinton. 

A trio of animal welfare groups have raised money online in recent days, because harsh temperatures are on the way. They’ve raised enough money to get Charles and Roxy a room at the nearby Motel 6 for the next few weeks. They’ve also purchased 100 pounds of dog food for Roxy, and have helped Charles out with necessities.  

Barton said he’s a Virginia native who served from 1981 to 1981 in the Army 82^nd Airborne.

“I never would have expected it to happen. But that it did, damn, it’s good…good,” said Barton.

He said he’s held jobs laying dry wall and he’s been a farm worker. But, he won’t work any job unless he can have his dog by his side. Roxy is much more than a therapy dog to him.

Terry Lynn Bloomer directs the “Burns Flat Pound”, and is one of the people who have been helping Barton.

“We run pounds out here. And it’s so easy for people to throw them away when they move. He kept it when his times were at the hardest. He stayed loyal to the dog,” said Bloomer. 

Other organizations that are helping Charles and his dog are, Clinton’s “Project Snip and Stitch”, and the “Clinton Pound Dogs”.  

Anyone wanting to help, can find those organizations on Facebook.