A Gainesville man is accused of shooting a 10-pound Chihuahua with an air rifle, wounding the animal.

“The suspect claimed the dog tried to attack him,” said Lt. Scott Ware, Hall County Sheriff’s Office spokesman. “There is no known evidence that this was the case.”

Pedro Javier Gallegos-Franco, 37, of Gainesville, has been charged with animal cruelty and reckless conduct in the incident, which took place Monday in the 3500 block of Casper Drive, according to the sheriff’s office.

He was arrested without incident and remains in the Hall County Jail.

Ware said the animal “had trouble walking” after the incident.

The sheriff’s office is still investigating the incident.