Taking in a very neglected, what I would call abused, Jack Russell mutt, near christmas. Need help on how to integrate into our house that has two dogs. Also how to know how a far gone his mental status is do to minimal interaction for the last couple of years? [Help] [Advice]

Sorry this is going to be ridiculously long. On cell so let me know if anything is incoherent. Also should I cross post to r/vet?

My JNMIL is an animal hoarder. Unfortunately she lives in a small small town in the south, I mention this because: Both myself and a police officer have called animal control about the number of animals she has/condition they are living in. They said they can't do anything unless she let's them in the house, which she would never do, or has most of the them outside when they show up (something else she would never do). Also recently DCFS came to check out the house (doublewide) to see if it was an ok home for the child of someone who is currently living with her (going through a custody battle with her own mom b.c shes 19 and not very good with the baby). They saw nothing wrong with living with 15 pets who you dont let go out therefore poop and pee on the floor. And a house full of chain smokers.

I digress; She keeps most of her 15 pets indoors. Doesnt even let them out to go to the bathroom. And her way of keeping down the poop and pee is to just not feed them or give them water very often. The one my SO and I will be taking has been living alone in a cage (made for a large dog but still) in his own piss and shit for years. He's now in the cage in a shed out back. She keeps him separate b.c hes not fixed and tries to fight with the her other male dogs. From what I understand hes about 3 or 4, from what I know hes been living in a cage since puberty.

Hes not altogether unfamiliar with people and dogs. Hes met my dogs a few times. It went well each time. Well with my big dog. My little dog was also a severely abused rescue, so it was more of a dont come near me and everything will be alright, type of situation. It was super easy to introduce her(my current small dog) to my big dog (who we had first) b.c she's insanely friendly, like lick a robber's face while wagging her tail friendly. My reservation is bringing this dog into my small dogs space. She is slow to warm up to any human or animal.

My other concerns are how do I know what kind of mental damage has been done? I've been looking for a dog psychologist, but have found none in my area, meaning the large city I live near. Do I cage him for potty training or will that be too much on him b.c hes lived his life in one? Would it be better to have a cage sitting out he can go to when he feels scared or overwhelmed since that's what he lived in? Should I keep him separate from my other dogs until he adjusts? That would basically mean keeping him in a cage b.c he can jump like nobodies business or locking him the bedroom. My house is fairly open so there wouldn't be any other options. Any help or advice would be extremely appreciated.

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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/dg838v/taking_in_a_very_neglected_what_i_would_call/