C'mon - who could possibly think this was ever NOT a hoax, be serious - does anyone really think a radio show host would ever purposely drown a dog and announce he was doing so? Do people use their brains at all? It may have been in poor taste - but I am much more concerned that people are so stupid they actually took it as fact...
I think there was a long thread here about it, someone bought into the story...
I'm reminded of a "mourning mother" at the center of a media circus. Killing her dead son daily.
All I have to say on the subject is "War of the Worlds" 1930s radio version. People fell hook line and sinker. Some people, too damn many, will believe anything they hear on radio or TV, and in some cases, the movies.