Many years ago, when my wife and I were first married, she was out walking her two American Eskimo's, when she was attacked by a couple of Pit's. She let her dogs go, and got backed up against the apartment by the Pits. She screamed for me to "Get a gun and shoot these SOB's." Being a dog lover, I knew she was (1) scared (2) in trouble. I went to the door, and found her backed up against the building by one pit bull. Her two eskies, God bless 'em were taking turns distracting the pits. One of them would charge into the pit from the rear. As soon as the pit turned to face this "threat" the eskie would go belly up. The pit would stop the attack and looked confused. Then the other dog would attack the pit from the rear. The pit would turn to fact this new threat. This went back and forth about three times while I was watching. Those two stupid, worthless, eskimo's were fighting a perfect delaying action, going back and forth like they'd planned it all their lives. My wife said they had been doing that all the way across the courtyard. The second pit bull just sort of stood off to the side and watched.
I had a gun, a 357 Taurus model 66, but quickly decided it wasn't justified...yet. Then an old woman from another apartment came out with an industrial strength broomstick ready to do battle with the dogs, to help my wife. i mean this old lady was ready to wade into the fight herself. I took the stick from her, cracked the "bad" pit over the head with the stick. He took off across the court-yard with his less than enthuastic buddy in tow. Never saw them again. Her two dogs are looking at me..."Did we do good? Huh? Did we?"
I had to admit they earned their kibbles that day.
I suppose I could have shot the one. He had my wife (who is handicapped and walks with a cane) pinned up againt the building to where she couldn't retreat anymore. She was crying like a baby she was so scared. She couldn't fight, she couldn't run. I have no doubt if not for those silly little dogs of hers she'd have been in real trouble. I also have no doubt without those silly little dogs, those pits would have probably never bothered her. I'm just really glad I didn't have to decide rather I'd shoot them or not. 'They hadn't bitten my wife, or her dogs at that point. I'm not sure what I'd have done if the old lady with the brookstick hadn't shown up, but I was never "ready" to shoot at that point. Too many people, houses, cars around to shoot really, and the situation hadn't gone downhill far enough at that point. But it was really a close and fast moving situation. No doubt as close to having to use a gun for anything serious as I've ever been.
Edited to add: I vote "other." The 38 I have on me most likely.