LAKEVILLE - Lakeville Police are investigating after a dog was shot to death Sunday afternoon.

WHDH-TV reports the dog had escaped from it's home Sunday afternoon and ran off into the woods. As the owners were looking for the one-year-old golden retriever named Walle, they heard gunshots. Lakeville Police soon called to tell them that their neighbor had admitted to shooting the dog.

The neighbor told police the dog was bothering his chickens. When the man tried to ward off the dog, he told police the dog became aggressive and charged at the man. He says he shot the dog in self defense.

Police are working to determine if the neighbor was within his rights to fatally shoot the dog.

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