Here's my take on this topic:

Many rural communities have quite different opinions about how animals should and could be treated. I have a neighbor who shoots pigeons off his barn room on Sundays - with a pistol. I have another neighbor who shots his dogs and cats rather than put them down with a Vet injection etc. like the rest of us do. They take dead cows and toss them in the woods to decompose. I would send them to a retirement community, if I could. It is a cultural thing and they consider dogs, cats etc. part of the food chain. Some of the old time farmers are from the old school where a pet is just another face to feed - and if necessary, they will make the face disappear as cheaply and easily as possible. Guns often solve lots of problems with animal control in rural areas. (And urban areas too, unfortunately)... I, on the other hand, if necessary, catch the stray cats and dogs and have them altered and spayed etc. and have them given shots...I often give out the name of the rescue association that offers this service for free, to farmers and poor folks. I use them for the stays, not my pets, so that they will not be using up precious time with me, when I can afford a "boutique" style service where they send get well cards etc.....

I trust Megan's Dad was kidding and some time to a rural area, kidding can take on a different tone. I also trust that the dog and child are not in harm's way.

But nothing would surprise me knowing what I know about some folks ideas of what is funny and what is not. I hope someone knows this child and pet and Dad...and we are all just spinning our wheels! Ugh.