DS regulars and rescuers: help me with this?

I have a friend who is having problems with her neighbors.. Well not really problens, but shes worried about their dog(s) and I just want to see what your guys advice is on this?

This is what she's sent me about the dog(s):

"We've reported abuse and neglect for these two dogs but animal control says they have a shelter, food and water so its fine. And the dogs (now dog) are "plump" compared to how they were.. Well a month ago one dog died. The owner knew she had been peeing blood and coughing but did nothing. The "food bowl" is a hole in the dirt with kibble in it, and the water is a cement bucket. We've called animal control twice. But they just give a warning.

When the dog died the owner just dug a shallow grave in the back yard and BARELY buried it enough so no one would see anything but a SMALL mound of dirt. When my friend told the owner the dog was dead the owner sighed and said "I don't have time for this" and did as I listed above. That was the last time we called animal control. Now the dog that's left, is in the "kennel" alone and he put a food bowl back there but it hasn't been filled in weeks. Yesterday my friend witnessed him feeding the dog two dog biscuits and that was it.

The landlord has threatened to kick out my family and friends if we do anything else. Its bullshit. Just because the dog has a crudely built shelter that WE built and looks fed doesn't mean the dog is being treated well. The dog also has an absess on its neck and when we told animal control that, the owners wife claimed she takes it to the vet to get drained every few months. But, that's a lie. That dog NEVER leaves that kennel. The owner only pays attention to it when he supposedly feeds it. Is there anything you can do to help, or who you know someone who could?"

I told her that since the owner has provided shelter, water and apparently food, AC can't legally do anything. At least not without proof that he is neglecting his dog. I told her that anytime the dog goes without food for a whole day, to take pictures with a date stamp on them. I also told her to take pictures daily of the abcess on the dogs neck, because if the owner is really getting the dog vet care it should improve after being at the vets. I told her she could also take constant video of the dog to prove if its getting fed or not. Is there anything she can do to help this pup? While it seems the dog is getting it's required attention, it is certainly not being truely CARED for.