Golden retriever Walle was fatally shot Oct. 8, 2017. —Krissy Dashner/Facebook

A 61-year-old Lakeville man has been charged with malicious killing or injury of a domesticated animal after shooting a neighbor’s golden retriever on Sunday, according to a police statement.

Mark J. Vasseur reportedly shot the 1-year-old golden retriever of Krissy Dashner and Pat Bates five times, telling multiple local news outlets he did so out of self-defense.

Vasseur is scheduled to be arraigned in Wareham District Court at a later date. It was not immediately clear if he has a lawyer.