What to do!?

Do you know anyone at Animal Control? I would talk with them, voice your concerns and ask if they could stop by and educate the people.  They sound like true idiots.  Good luck and I understand your frustration!

I'm frustrated with your attitude that you can't do anything.  Yes, you can.  This is your family, set them straight or call the authorities.  They are being very abusive and neglectful.  And, you are just enabling them since they know you will bail them out when they get themselves in too deep.  This dog isn't going to be treated any differently. 

Maybe they are learning .  All those dogs in just 7 months.  I hope the Springer Spaniel will be it.  I don't know though, they change their dogs like shoes.

Poodle_luvr

She threw this pup over the porch rail.  Luckily the husband caught the pup. 

This couple is obviously too immature to handle puppies, so I sure hope that they do better with a trained adult dog!!  And with children!!!!!

Poodle_luvr, do you live close enough to give the dog its monthly heartworm meds?  If the couple can't manage to worm a sick pup, I don't imagine that they will be able to remember to give a monthly med.  Inteceptor would control heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, but not tapeworms.

The worms seen in the stool were probably flea tapeworms, so the same thing might be necessary for flea control treatments.  I hope this couple's home isn't flea infested at this point.

Hi....oh what a mess!....sounds like this is going to be one of those ongoing problems.and the poor kids in this household too!

and for anyone to throw a puppy?....so abusive..these people shouldn't be allowed fleas, let alone any dog.

Is there any way these people can be banned from having a dog?.

Ouch, some of this is harsh.  She's yeah, "bailing out" the irresponsible folks, but she's also saving the lives of these poor pups.  While I agree that they shouldn't be allowed to own fleas, forget the dog that they come on, well, in most states if they are providing food, water and shelter, they aren't being neglectful

Yes, someone needs to give these children a firm talking to, but, it's sometimes like peeing into the wind trying to talk to younger family members.  The OP came to us for suggestions, not to be scorned for helping save lives.

I wish I had some brilliant ideas to share.  Perhaps a family effort?  Get together and get this couple some training lessons, someone pitch in to babysit so that they have no excuse not to go......this latest dog might be absolutely perfect and not need training, but THEY sure do.

Me, being me, I would risk alienating these folks and give them some harsh facts including the fact that their CHILDREN can also catch these worms and that if the kids need to be repeatedly treated for wom infestations, the doctor might just think about reporting them for neglecting the KIDS.  But, this might not be a situation where that would do a bit of good.

Wow, this is a tough one.  The cycle will not stop, until they have that "lightbulb" moment and understand the basics.  Having an intervention of some sorts may be in order, but then that could be difficult to.  But, they need hard core education if the are going to keep a dog in their household.

Maybe you put a firm fist down and tell them straight out...they have to learn how to care for a dog.  Get a video for them to watch, sit down with them in front of the computer and show them information on the internet in how to "basically" care for dogs.   This will take a lot of your time, because you will need to be their teacher; as well as take the initiative to make sure the dog is fed, and cared for properly on a continued basis. 

I have to hope that if you just show up periodically to make sure the dog is cared for, they will eventually "get it" and want you to stop coming over.    Then, they will realize...if we want her so stop coming over so much...we better start caring for this dog. 

I agree that they are being enabled right now...but what were you supposed to do.  You did the right thing by taking each dog out of their home.  But, prevention is the key, right.

Wishing you good luck with this difficult situation...it won't be fixed overnight...but persistance in teaching on your part and hopefully with the help of other family members this could work out.

I feel bad for the OP for her irresponsible relatives that she has to keep bailing out and saving these pups lives. Thank god for her to save them, or they would have all died. And not to mention I'm sure she's using her money to pay for all the vet expenses. Relatives or not, from the time it was witnessed that the poor pup was thrown over the porch rail, AC would've been called, and called and called....You being there to bail them out, they probably figure oh well if it doesn't work out, so and so will just take the dog, nurse it back to health and find it a good home. They don't love their dogs at all, they could careless it's even there and why they keep getting dogs is beyond reasoning.

 Where did you all get the idea that the problem family were relatives? The OP said, "We know this young family..."

Edited to add: Reread the post and finally found the mention of relatives, mea culpa! 

I think it's really great that you are saving these dogs from these people!

If the wife thinks it is okay to throw a puppy when she is mad, what does she do to the children? I would report this to Family Services, and to Animal Control. I also think you might go have a talk with Animal Control and have them blocked for adoptions, or see if you can have that happen. I think it is clear that they aren't a good home for a pet.

But I'm not writing them off totally! 

These folks need help, and not just help with animals. Luckily, you are providing a wonderful, caring example and I hope at least some of it rubs off on the kids, too! I bet there are lots of problems with care of the children, too? Or children acting out? They might be nice people in their hearts but I suspect they need some parenting classes, and possibly family counseling as well. They need help, support, and education, and the the abuse of the dogs is just a huge clue.

If they can realize they need help, things could turn around 100%.

Because of the puppy-throwing episode, I'm very, very concerned for these children. 

This poor pup was one solid mat.  I had my sister in law come over and she had to shave him right down - it came off in one big pelt.  And then the reality of how terribly emaciated this puppy was became really apparent.  He was skin and bones.  Literally.  I brought him (and a fecal specimen) to the vet; he had worms and a bacterial infection. 

I don't feel the responses are harsh at all.  This is neglect and having dogs full of worms and not taking care of it is also neglect-not providing medical care

I didn't say the responses were harsh....who said that? I pointed out the abuse aspect too...... ??

I said that the responses were harsh.  And, I said I agree that these folks shouldn't own dogs.  BUT, I do think it's unfair of us to rake the OP over the coals for helping.  Perhaps she IS enabling them, but she is also saving lives that would otherwise be tossed away.

 Well, considering that they are family and you have spent a considerable amount of money already, I suggest the following:

  Sit down with them and say something along the lines of "Look, I love you guys, you're my *whatever, BIL, cousins, etc*.  But you seem to have had some bum luck with dogs lately and I think you might not be dog people, maybe you need a cat, canary, whatever, instead, dogs are alot more work than most people expect.  But it looks like *Lady, Susie, Whatever they named the latest dog* might just work out, and I hope that she does.  So, I've gotten you a Pet Insurance Policy to help you out with any medical visits the dogs needs and for check ups and shots and I also got you intro dog training lessons at the local SPCA.  I've helped you out with lots of the other dogs that didn't work out in the past, but I just can't do that anymore because it's really upsetting for me and I'm not sure I can find more homes for more dogs.  If this dog doesn't work out despite the lessons and the pet insurance, please take it to the SPCA and get a more manageable pet for your family."

You can't just keep going through this because it does enable them to continue the behavior and it's clearly upsetting for you and completely not fair to you, even though you offered.  They need to be more responsible.  If they can't after all your help, veterinary assistance and training, they don't need to get any more dogs, maybe fish would be more their speed. 

Good Luck!

BCMixs, this is a great plan.  Well said and I agree 100%.