JD,
Your story makes me sick to death. I just lost my Golden Retriever seven months ago and I'm still not quite over it. It was quite a unique situation as he was only given 8-12 months to live when I got him...had a heart condition (he ended up living 12 years with the best care he could possibly get...I estimate we spent over $15k in care for him). I couldn't give a dog like that back under any circumstance. I'd use one of the excuses one of the other posters said, maybe say someone reported you to animal cruelty, etc., but this wouldn't even be a conversation for me. That dog would have been already gone to Indiana. The sad thing is, your buddy will probably still go out and get another dog and then the process starts all over again with a new dog. We've got a guy a few houses away that leaves his dog out in a dog house all day into the night (don't know if he ever gets in the house). It's drives me nuts listening to it cry all day. Why people get dogs that they can't take care of is beyond me. Admittedly, as much as I want another dog, I don't know if I can go through it again. That was one of the most painful things I've gone through in quite some time. He was literally attached to my side no matter where I went. I found myself still looking behind my chair or on the side of my bed before I got up so I wouldn't step on him for months after he passed away. Most of my neighbors say it just seem strange to see me take walks in my neighborhood without him. I can't stand people who abuse animals.
You my friend will have another dog ! It just happens even when you think it wont. My neighbors had a little dog and a 2 year old daughter. Very busy young couple. They would leave the dog in the house and when he saw me he would go nuts as we were buddies. Long story short they knew I loved him and when they moved asked me if I could take care of him. Then they asked if I could find a home for his son who was with the gals mom. I have both dogs and we are a very happy trio ! They live through the good times and the bad times . Once you know that love it is hard to not have a furry friend. As far as the guy and his total mistreatment of that poor dog I would have sent it away and punched him in the face followed by a swift kick in the nuts !