I am a pretty brave person when it comes to presenting scenarios to people. Basically I'd sit down with these people and present what has happened and what you believe will happen as a result. Present what you think needs to change for this to be fixed either getting rid of the dogs, improving living conditions, etc etc... and see if they're willing to change. The final consiquence in this I would point blank say would be to divorce yourself from the relationship should they choose to do nothing about it. No matter how obligated I feel towards anyone else if something about the relationship gnaws at me as being so far immorial then I can either address it or divorce myself from that situation.

You can't change anyone else. That is a simple fact of life. They have to choose to change however you can give them a solid kick in the butt about consiquences of their actions and inactions.

talking to them about the concerns i have over a child being brought into the home is what caused them to go to the aggression control classes.

i have sat down w/my friend and said 'i think these are your issues' and made suggestions etc. part of the problem is that they're both lazy, and part of the problem is also they don't want to admit there's an issue and that they've 'failed'. it's an overconcern about outward appearances or something - their attitude towards muzzling is a perfect example of that, with respect to their own dogs, and to that in specific circumstances i chose to muzzle teagan.

like i said - they do care about me and are supportive in other ways, so while we're not as close as we once were, i don't want to end the friendship. i've been politely blunt w/them - our other friend taking the not-so-polite blunt approach - and neither has worked, though my approach has been the most productive - the classes, for instance.

we don't talk dogs much any more, but when they come up, i do try to advocate for their dogs.

i don't think i can change them, or that anything i will say will make a real difference - i've said plenty, and so has our other friend, including advocating euthing the male. i really was just hoping i was missing something that could help the dog in this situation, b/c if this whole thing is unfair to anyone, it's those dogs. like i said, they aren't really hard to handle, and that's the saddest thing about all this.