I don't care how the time is broken up, 4 hours outside of a crate a day is not anywhere near enough. That is very different than your situation where your dogs are free 15 hours a day. I'm over it though- it sounds like the situation for the little guy will improve which is the important thing and even though I think he got exactly what he derserved, I'm will to agree to disagree if you are.
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"If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." — St. Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226