I don't know how it is in Texas, but typically, if an animal has been taken from someone, they can't own another for a specified amount of time. Do you know if they had a time requirement like this placed on them? You can go back and look, those kind of records are public. You could just start there....
I feel very sad for that dog. I lived in Houston for a few years and the heat is MISERABLE!!!!!!!! If they were so intenet on getting an outdoor dog, why in the world did they get one that has pink skin and WILL burn in the sun?!!! Ugh!
Tammy