My ex-wife and I noticed a pit bull in our old neighborhood was chained up under a neighbor's deck in the middle of February (very cold in NoVA) all day for multiple days. His water dish was frozen solid and there was no food. She brought him both and she called it in but never heard the outcome. Likely not much, I suspect.
It's definitely a sign of one's lack of empathy and compassion. If you can't/don't want to care for a family member, don't adopt one just to look cool to your friends. Lock this dude up (won't happen).