Chris as you know I do some Critter Control from time to time.
Out on the farms and such Rabid Critters do show up. Oh they are here in the city, just not legal to go shooting them as one can out in the country.
Raccoons, skunks are one thing. Dogs - like a pack of dogs are another. Now I practice the Tueller drill with handgun and shotgun. There is a HUGE difference in the Target version with known range and travel. Live Critters don't know about Tueller. Live critters do not know about calibers, gauges, ballistics and such. Live Critters don't know they are "supposed" to react like the gun magazines, advertising, or ammo boxes say they are supposed to.
A pack of dogs can appear from nowhere. Rabid ones are quite unpredictable.
I am a big proponent of slugs in shotguns. I am chided for being Practical, not tactical. My shotguns are bone stock. I have "fired a few" shotgun rounds in my lifetime.
My scariest Tueller was in the back area of a Farm, visiting with a family, visiting, and talking about the recent pack of dogs acting rabid 'down the way'. I'm standing there with a shotgun, my CCW. Most others were armed as well. This is out in the country afterall - what one does.
That lead dog made a beeline toward a 3 year old drinking from her Tippy cup, I snagged that child up and fired one handed with a bone stock 870 with 28" bbl. Thank goodness that child had instintively put her hands over her ears. The child had been raised around guns. Screaming, squirming, hands over ears and her heels kicking, eyes wide with fear of that dog...a 12 ga slug works at 5 steps. [ yeah close I'll say]. I had already pumped one handed , ejecting and chambering another slug when other shots rang out from the farm folks toward the next dog. The Grandma came and took the child from me.
Yes I felt really bad and scared for the kids ears. She did have them checked and the Dr. said all was well. Hands over ears [thankfully] and turning towards my back was a good thing.
Mine [ears]rang for a bit. I admit I did not take time to put my plugs in. I was nearest the child, leaning against a truck. Everyone else was sitting and further away. I did what I felt was the right thing.
Another lesson I learned from the others, getting out of a light lawn chair is not easy or fast. Sidearms get hung up and folks cannot draw as well while sitting.
I was even forgiven for busting that Tippy Cup when I stepped on it. Child finally calmed down. I apologized. Grandma had consoled and comforted the child while the rest of us took care of business. Seeing her smile and getting a hug let me know all was right with the child. She still remembers it, not in a bad way . Still not too fond of big black dogs though. Her new puppy was Chocolate. Good looking Lab and her bestest friend.