By mid-afternoon on Friday, an online petition to revoke the gun license of Mark Vasseur was just 2,000 digital signatures shy of reaching its goal of 55,000.

On Thursday, Lakeville Police formally charged Vasseur, 61, with the malicious killing of Walle -- a local family's 1-year-old golden retriever. Vasseur is believed to have shot and killed Walle last Sunday, after the dog had gotten out of its owners' home and wandered into the yard of Vasseur.

The story went viral when Krissy Dashner, who, with Pat Bates, who owns another German Shepherd pup Zeke, posted on Facebook that her beloved golden retriever pup had been shot and killed after getting loose from her backyard in the small Plymouth County town.

Dashner's online message read: "I am so very heartbroken. My beautiful Walle was shot to death tonight. I can't even believe this. He got loose and someone shot him 5 times claiming he "looked agressive" What is this world coming to."

The next day, Vasseur told reporters he shot Walle for attacking his chicken coop.

Vasseur said Walle approached his chicken coop, killed one of his chickens and then proceeded to attack him. Vasseur, who carried his gun to ward off other possible wild animals, then shot the pup out of self-defense, he said.

"I tried to spook him, the retriever turned and charged me. I had no choice but to shoot him. It was self-defense ... I am an animal lover," Vasseur told Fox 25 Boston, adding that the dog was going to bite him. He also told the news station he did not regret his actions.

Four days following the shooting, police charged Vasseur with the "malicious killing and injury of a domesticated animal."

It is unclear what led police to press charges against Vasseur. Lakeville Police Chief Frank Alvilhiera has not returned a call to MassLive for comment.

Vasseur's Facebook page, which has been removed from public viewing, highlighted the Lakeville resident's interest in guns and disdain for Democrats. Screenshots on blog Turtleboy Sports show comics and memes shared on Vasseur's page, including pro-gun messages from a page called "Cold Dead Hands."

One photo on his Facebook page included an outdoor sign that read: "THIS HOUSE IS PROTECTED BY THE GOOD LORD AND A GUN...YOU WILL MEET THEM BOTH IF YOU COME IN UNWELCOME."

I am so very heartbroken. My beautiful Walle was shot to death tonight. I can't even believe this. He got loose and someone shot him 5 times claiming he "looked agressive" What is this world coming to. Posted by Krissy Bates on Sunday, October 8, 2017

The online petition created by Chris Sebolt asks the Lakeville Police Chief Frank Alvilhiera to revoke the gun license of Mark Vasseur.

Of the 53,000 digital signatures supporting the petition, only about 3,000 were from Massachusetts. People signed who say they are from across the United States and world. While there is little verification process for such online surveys, signers said they hailed from places as far away as India, Slovenia, Sweden, Brazil and many other countries.

"There is no telling what will set this man off, removing his weapons is in the best interest of Massachusetts as he has displayed a clear and present danger," the summary of Sebolt's petition reads.

Lakeville Police said Vasseur will be arraigned in Wareham District Court at a later date.