Это дали собак

[gnomygnomy.livejournal.com]

I'm having trouble making sense of this sentence.

Here's the context:
Person 1: А откуда удочка у Мамы Свинки?
Person 2: Это дали собак.

I understand собак is the genitive plural of собака. I'm wondering if the reason it's in genitive form is to give the effect of "some", as in, "some dogs gave it". Am I close?

Comments

Это псковские дали

[lion-casserole.livejournal.com]

.
some dogs were given == "собакам дали" или же "дали собакам"

The word "дали" in Russian could serve plural of "даль" - some flat surface where one could see objects at unusually great distances. In this context, which is far away from the given dialogue, the sentence in question would make sense :

- Это дали собак.
- This is a broad view at territories, which are owned ( or occupied ) by dogs.