Isn't there an animal control officer in your town you can contact? That sort of treatment of an animal would get attention fast around here. And judging by the way they treated you, spoke to you, I can only imagine how much worse the dog is being treated. It doesn't matter that he is or is not being "hit." As you describe it, that is abuse, at best neglect, in my mind. Perhaps your parents can convince them to surrender him. And yes, perhaps a financial payment would be an incentive. In any case, I think that dog needs to be removed from that home