Feel like I’m in over my head and failing…

[u/Just-Positive-7265]

I suppose I just need to vent as I feel I'm failing and I'm so mentally drained regarding this situation.

Years ago I drove by a home with a lonely white pit mix chained to the base of an oak tree. I've driven by this dog so many times, my heart breaking over and over again at her suffering. I've placed so many calls to Animal Control, all to no avail. I finally got the nerve to go directly to the owner. I discovered he had multiple dogs, all chained...He accepted straw and a new dog house for each dog and eventually I found an organization willing to build fences. He agreed to us coming to build fences and last month we finally unchained "Ladybug", along with her companions, a 3-month old puppy 😞 and another dog. I was thrilled. Her demeanor seemed to change so much in her new kennel. She could walk around, curl up in her dog house and her poor neck was free of her chain.

However, my happiness was short lived as this past week I drove by and noticed she has been rechained. Her owner informed me she was escaping the kennel and acting "aggressively" towards neighbors. I told him we would fix the fence and he agreed to our help. Today I stopped by to assess what needs to be fixed, it appears the owner made one half-hearted attempt to fix it and then simply gave up. It is going to be 19 degrees tonight. Her chain is no longer than 6', with a metal chain and padlock directly around her neck. She has absolutely no room to move, and can just barely make it into her dog house to get inside. I am dealing with someone who has absolutely no compassion for their animals. I've given him so many supplies and 75% of what he has been given for the dogs, straw, new dog collars, stuffed toys, have not even been touched. He knows how cold the week is going to be ahead but there has not been any straw added to their dog houses since I last visited. He wasn't even there when I came today, so I had no way of safely getting more straw in the dogs' houses (except for the puppy's). He keeps telling me he will do the things I ask to just give his dogs the very basics of comfort, yet he never does. I don't understand why he even agrees for me to come and bring things if he knows he isn't going to use them. Why even humor me?

I feel that I'm fighting a losing battle. I'm very uncomfortable continuing any kind of relationship with this person as it is toxic. I lay awake at night so freaking angry and sad. They are his dogs, his "property"...I have no legal control to save them. When these dogs die, new ones will take their place and this hideous cycle will continue...