The town of Zebulon, NC has deemed this acceptable:
The owner is a backyard breeder.
The dog is chained to the house, with a wire crate and a tarp over it.
Only fed and watered once or twice a week.
Animal control has been called 4 or 5 times. They have deemed the living environment acceptable.
The owner has been approached to surrender the dog
The owner has been approached to sell the dog.
The dog remains outside with no food or water as of 30 minutes ago.
The dog remains as close to the house as possible for cooler temperatures.
The law will not save him, the law will protect the owner if he is to disappear. He will have no justice and as the temperature rises this summer, he will die.