Dinnertime!

Dinner tine! Fior some reason, Kevin keeps spilling food onto the floor for Clint.

One more day, a little better

Kevin taking a nap. He's getting better each day!

Breakfast in bed

Kevin enjoyed breakfast in bed this morning

Clint wanted his picture taken too!

Another good day at the Niess-Vaughn household.  It's hard to keep Kevin from slowing down.  He is really ready to go full speed (though his doctor would say otherwise!)  He has another seven weeks of restricted activity.  He still can't walk on his broken leg, but does get around quickly on three.  I know Clint is ready for Kevin to be better.  Clint is just full of energy and ready to play!
Just a reminder, the appreciation party (fundraiser, homecoming) has been rescheduled to January 29th.  It was this Thursday, but our kitchen is far from done and possibly far too small.

Rest is what the doctor ordered!

Brett and Kevin taking a nap.

Kevin's first vet visit

Kevin's first post hospital vet first was yesterday. His eye is doing much better and we no longer need to use any of the eye medicines!
Kevin also had his bandage removed. He was yelping quite a bit. The front desk person told me what was going on. I laughed a bit. It does hurt when someone removes a bandage, especially when you are hairy!!
He has another appointment next week to remove his stitches. That will be great. He still is on activity restriction. He gets around pretty well with his three legs. He'll use his broken leg occasionally. I think he's like his dad and daddy, "look I'm fine. I'm ready to go full speed now!"
He has seven more weeks of restricted activity. I think it's harder on Clint. He's dying to rough house with Kevin.

Kevin is doing well

Taking a morning nap.

Resting this very Merry Christmas!

Some very tired (and lucky!) dogs

Brett getting a bit of love from Clint

It indeed is a very Merry Christmas!  Thank you everyone for your kind words & donations.  You have been amazing.

Give your little ones a hug (human and/or animal)!

Thank You! Thank You!

A quick post to say that our fundraiser on December 30th will be moved to January 29th.  We needed a bigger place and the Rose Garden Inn in Berkeley has graciously opened their doors to us.  They will also be providing discounted rooms if any one would like to stay the night.

More details to come very soon!

Thank you again!  I can't believe how giving, loving and caring everyone has been.

Happy Holidays from the whole family!
Brad, Brett, Kevin & Clint

Now it feels like Christmas!

Now it's Christmas!

Our boy is back!

Happy! Happy!

Christmas is a Time for Miracles

Just a few minutes ago we received the telephone call...and our Christmas Miracle was realized! Clint was safe and sound in the care of a loving family. We were quickly off to pick Clint up and bring him home for Christmas. Now, our family is again complete!

We are all deeply grateful for the prayers and support folks have sent our way! THANK YOU!

This is the BEST present we could have received!

WELCOME HOME CLINT...WELCOME HOME!!!

Resting in the my crate

Kevin resting in his crate

I can't believe how much Kevin likes to be in his crate.  And I use the word "his" lightly.  He has never spent time in it.  The first time I brought it out (a year ago), he growled at it and wanted nothing to do with it.  Today I put him in it for the first time.  He resisted for a second and now, he's right at home in it.  I think he finally feels safe in it.  That's a good thing!  He'll need to be in here when we are not around or not able to watch him.  He's not allowed to jump up on furniture or any activity of the sort.
A great day at home!  Maybe Clint will be joining us soon.  Keeping hope!

Pills and meds, lots of them!

7am, 9am, 1pm, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm, 1am...repeat!  It's all worth it!

Thank you to everyone that have been posting possible sightings of Clint.  We have a flyer that we encourage people to post in Oakland, San Leandro & Alameda.  It's very possible that someone has him and just doesn't know that his family is missing him!
You can find the flyer for Clint here.

Thank you!  Thank you!  The love from our community is tremendous!

Kevin is resting

Kevin is snuggling on the couch with me right now.  It's great to have him home!!

Thank you for your continued support!

What an amazing feeling how total strangers can make the world feel just a bit more warm.  Thank you!  Thank you!!  Thank you!!!

Each one of you that have left a kind word, words of hope and donations, it all means the world to us.  Whether it's a "I'm thinking of you" or a $5 donation, it all means a lot.

Thank you!  We continue to look for Clint.  Keep the faith; he'll come home!!

KEVIN'S HOME!!!

Woo hoo!  I went to pick up Kevin late this morning from Berkeley PETS Referral Center.  It was great to see him walk in the room!  Well, it was bit more of a hobble, but still he's on all three legs!

It has been quite the morning.  We did interviews with KPIX, KRON and KGO and I still need to get back to NBC3 and KCBS.  It is really draining but amazing that all of these people care soooo much!

Right now we are up in the bedroom.  He's on the ground, tuckered out.  It was a big day for him.  I'm just so happy that he is back home.

We are so close to being a whole family again.  We love and miss you Clint!

A great story from our friends in Reno

Click here for the story.

Thank you KRXI Fox Reno for sharing our story!

Another night in the hospital!

Kevin is still in the hospital.  We were hoping that he would be able to come home tonight, but he is still recovering from this morning's surgery.  Because of the numerous severe injuries Kevin has suffered, recovering from surgery is taking longer than first expected.

He has about 12-15 pins in his elbow and leg.  (I can't remember the exact number.)  When we first saw him, he wasn't moving and just moving his eyes.  It looked like he took a few steps backwards.  I was getting really worried, but the doctor came over and explained that he was still groggy from the drugs.  Whew!  About 5 minutes into our visit, he was getting up and trying to come home with us!  He really wanted out of that cage.

If he can get off of the IV narcotics by tomorrow morning and manages with oral medicine, then he can come home!!  Woo Hoo!!  We've been waiting for this moment a long time!!

Brett saying good night to Kevin.  Hopefully no more nights at the hospital!

Still no Clint.  I hope that little guy is ok.

Flyer to Help Find Clint

Here's a Google Documents link to a PDF flyer to assist in finding Clint.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B1qRrfW8DzgxNDQwZGY2OTEtMGRhYS00ZTc0LTllMmItMmQzYTk4MTk0ZGVj&hl=en&authkey=CLfuuqIN

Feel free to post and share this with others.

Thanks for your help!

Wednesday Morning Update

Last night KTVU Fox Channel 2 in Oakland ran a story about the abuse Kevin suffered and also featured information about Clint to assist in his reunification with our family. Copies of links are below:

STORY LINK:

http://www.ktvu.com/news/26229863/detail.html

VIDEO LINK:

http://www.ktvu.com/video/26235072/index.html

SLIDESHOW LINK:

http://www.ktvu.com/slideshow/news/26240037/detail.html


This has been a very difficult week for all of us. We're hopeful, by getting the word out, we can find Clint and get some prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery for Kevin. We're also hopeful we can get information on Kevin's abusers and report it to the Oakland Police Department.

• >> If you have information about Kevin's abusers or Clint's whereabouts please contact Oakland Animal Services--a division of the Oakland Police Department at (510) 535-5602.

• >> If you can't reach anyone at the above number but have an active tip of animal abuse to report you can contact the non-emergency dispatch line of the Oakland Police Department at (510) 777-3333.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.

Another minor surgery (Day Six)

Kevin is doing better but needs another minor surgery this morning.  The surgeon thinks that he will be able to secure one of the pins better.  He might come home tonight or tomorrow.  Fingers-crossed!

See Kevin's news story on KTVU

http://www.ktvu.com/video/26235072/index.html

See Kevin's news story at the link above.

Surgery Day! (Day Five)

Kevin is resting peacefully after surgery to repair his broken elbow.  The surgery went well, but was much more difficult than first thought.  There were more broken pieces of bone than first thought.  The surgeon is very optimistic regarding his recovery.  He might actually get to come home tomorrow afternoon!!  We are very hopeful!!
Kevin still has a long road to "full" recovery, whatever that may be.  He's one tough guy and I know he'll be back at the front door, ready to greet all that pass through our doors!

Day before surgery (Day Four)

Brett telling Kevin he needed to get lots of rest Monday night before his big surgery on Tuesday.  He's elbow is broken in several places.

Getting Better! Ready for surgery? (Day Four)

On Monday, Kevin was feeling better.  He was starting to stand on his own (though being VERY careful of his broken elbow.)  He got the "cone of shame" (from the movie UP).  That was good sign.  He was not as sedated and was much more aware.  Ready for surgery tomorrow!

Daddy saying a prayer for Kevin (Day 3)

Before we left for the night, Brett said a prayer for Kevin and to find Clint.  They are loved!

Kevin, Day Three

Kevin started to finally show signs that he was going to make it Sunday!  When Brett sat down next to him, he would crawl over and sit on his lap.  He was missing his Daddy!

Kevin found beaten and shot in the head

Here is Kevin one day after the Oakland police had found him.

Help Kevin & Find Clint, the Schnauzers

Happy little boys, Kevin & Clint

Our Schnauzer, Kevin, was found by the Oakland Police, clinging to
life on December 17th.  His elbow was broken, badly beaten, a gunshot
to the head and was in a state of shock.  Luckily he had been
micro-chipped, and we received a phone call immediately.  We had a
quick decision to make, either send him to the Berkeley Pet Emergency
Hospital or have him put down.  There was no time for us to see him.

Well, it wasn’t a hard decision to make; Kevin is our little boy.  We
arrived at the hospital at the same time.  Kevin was unresponsive and
barely alive.  They took him in back and after an hour, were able to
stabilize him so we could see him.  We said goodnight, hoping to see
him better in the morning.  Amazingly Kevin has been very strong and
is recovering (though VERY slowly).  His hospital bill has started to
add up, and he still has a long way to go (including surgery to repair
his broken elbow).

We are planning a benefit fundraiser at our home on December 30th,
3-9pm to raise funds to cover his hospital bill.  Any excess funds
will be donated to the Oakland Animal Services (they found him) and to
the East Bay SPCA.  If you are interested in attending, please email
me at bradniess@gmail.com

Our other schnauzer, Clint is still missing.  He is the little one in
the picture.  He possibly was with Kevin at Havenscourt & Bancroft
Avenue.  We are hopeful for his safe return.  If you think you have
seen him, please contact Oakland Animal Services at (510) 535-5602.

We’ve also started a donation page at
http://www.giveforward.com/supportkevin  This isn’t an easy time for
anyone, but life shouldn’t have to be cut short because some people
thought they would have a good time by torturing our helpless dog.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the
way its animals are treated.” -Ghandi

Hoping for that Christmas Miracle,

Brad & Brett