I need lots of advice, please.

I have two feral cats living inside (they never will be lap cats but they show a lot of affection.)

Now my neighbor is moving. He always fed feral cats. He is taking three and leaving two (to me.) Also he has a dog on a chain, George. George is seven and is a dear old thing. Right now I am not equipped to put a fence, but I could in the future. As it stands, I can have a long chain attached to the side of an old barn/shed. There is a plastic corrugated lean-to on the side and a wide, open door to the inside. At this time I plan to put bedding (which I can wash) inside on some of last fall's leaves. I have several bags.

I am madly reading Victoria Stilwell's It's the Dog or Me. I have not had a dog in thirty years. George comes up to my knees. He is a reddish brown with black shading on his head, I believe. I know that he can respond to commands and that he loves riding in the car. I know he can go inside the house a while, but he might have an accident if he is not closely watched. If I can get him completely house trained, I would like to have him in the house most of the time.

The two cats are the off-spring of a feral cat. They are friendly and tame to the owners and not really frightened of me. I would leave them outside and feed them they way they are used to being fed. I hope they will get tame with me too.

Ms Stilwell has a chapter on dog food. I was horrorified when she explained what chicken meal, meat byproducts, fish meal, and additives means. I assume it is the same for cats too. Within the last year I lost two old cats to kidney failure. I have two one year I am going to find a good nutritious safe food for all the cats as well as the dog.

In addition, I will be going to a dog foster parent where two young dogs are; they need to be socialized. I plan to start by going and sitting on a cushion and reading.
I won't stare at them or approach them. I will take treats though. I want to go often so they become adoptable and used to people. Other people will go and visit with them too.

So I would like to have suggestions. I know George's situation won't be ideal, but he has been on a chain all his life. I could have a pen and a nice dog house put up for him this summer.

Please advise me because I want to do the right thing.