The people who left their dogs to starve or die from the heat are not poor innocents. I'm sorry you have to be totally stupid and uncaring to leave a dog to starve, when it takes just one phone call to get it help. If not an adoption then at least a humane death, if there is such a thing.
I still say they do not deserve any sympathy for that. So they lost their house to no fault of their own, for that I truly am sorry. But it is no excuse to mistreat one of gods most trusting and helpless creatures. When you accept a dog's love, you damn well owe him or her love in return. If you can't do so little for them, then don't accept them in the first place. I personally would put the chain around their neck, while they told me their hard luck story. Sorry I just can't find sympathy for anyone who would abandon an animal in a closed up environment with no food and water.