[ThunderSleeps]

If somebody, anybody, uniformed or no, jumps into my backyard and starts shooting, I will immediately engage that person with aimed fire.

Exactly. For all you know that's a costume and his shooting your pet is the opening move of an armed and hostile home invasion.

There is a loaded AR within arms reach of me as I type this - with a mix of ball, HP, and LAP rounds in it. If I heard gunfire in the back yard I'd use it. If the person was lucky they would be facing away from me when I engaged - I might, might give them one chance to drop their weapon. However, if I were in their line of fire and/or they refused to obey commands immediately ... shoot center mass until you run dry or the target is down.

[jboot]

Without revealing too much about my security arrangements I will say that I have plenty of options, good cover, good fields of fire, and I don't use pistols, shotguns, or rifles with a caliber less than 0.30 for home defense.

And all my bullets have glossy little black tips on them just in case the threat has a "tough hide".