It is very common out here for hunting dogs as well, like my GSH. Despite a doghouse designed to keep a dog comfortable in such temperatures, our dog was permitted to come into house when temperatures got near zero which wasn't very often. My wife has an allergy to pet dander, so this treatment had to be limited.
I don't think that FReepers have any issue with someone truly abusing animals being punished. There is definitely a mental defect there.
Catch them young enough and they may learn why hurting animals or people is wrong even if they don’t have the empathy gene that tells them naturally.
It may literally prevent them from ending up in prison for life after taking life if caught early enough.
In retrospect; it probably would have been a good time to find another loving home for your dog when you found out your wife was allergic to him. It’s sad when that happens but it’s far better for the pup and of course your wife would not have to suffer from the allergy. Time was on your side to find just the right home for him as much as it might have hurt you. Dogs that are pets like yours are far too often treated like livestock. People just feed and water them thinking that ends their responsibility but in reality all that is is the very basics in that responsibility. Dogs (especially; cats not so much) require a lot of attention. Yes, they will adjust and accept that’s just the way their life is, but it’s so unfair to any dog to be left alone in a back yard day after day. They just have an existence; not really a life.
Hindsight is always 20/20 though...
Cheers and regards.