In this world, there are dogs, and DOGS, and DOGS. Great Danes belong to the last category - big and friendly and impossible to ignore. (Think Scooby-Doo, Marmaduke, Pluto, Goofy, and Astro.)

And therein lies the problem. While Great Dane puppies are small and cuddly, at full size, on their hind feet, they stand taller than a person. On average, males weigh 160 pounds and females 130.

Some owners seem to be caught unaware when their Great Dane's rapid growth causes it to suddenly live up to its name and fill the house with more dog than they bargained for. This is especially true if the animal has not been properly trained from puppyhood. Any untrained dog is liable to explore and chew and ruin things in happy abandon. When a big Great Dane indulges in such behavior, the results can be devastating in a home.

So the unfortunate dog is relegated to the back yard, chained up and neglected. Or it's simply turned loose to fend for itself, or abused in other ways. For a dog with a built-in gentle and sociable nature like the Great Dane, such abuse and abandonment is almost unendurable. They can easily become stressed, depressed, and unmanageable.

Enter the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League (MAGDRL)! These volunteers rescue Great Danes who have been rejected by their families. They foster the "gentle giants" in a loving environment, giving them security and teaching them the manners that are required to live sociably with humans.

"Most rescued Great Danes thrive on the love and attention," said Laurie Zoock, MAGDRL public relations director. Soon they're ready for adoption into a home that can adapt to the presence of a huge pet. This particular breed is renowned for its sweet temperament and devotion to its owner.

The MAGDRL, a nonprofit organization staffed entirely by volunteers, serves seven states in the mid-Atlantic region, including New Jersey. One hundred percent of the funds donated to the group is used to help the Great Danes.

Each rescued animal is spayed or neutered, given necessary medical attention, and trained in obedience. If a foster home is not available, MAGDRL will place the dog temporarily in a kennel. Volunteers meet with prospective adopters to ensure the suitability of their lifestyle and home (which must have a fenced-in yard) for a Great Dane.

Four volunteers will be featured on Jefferson Highlights Community Television this week. Laurie Zoock hosts the show with six guests - three human and three canine. Sue Broderick has Charlie Girl, a black Great Dane mix puppy available for adoption. Jenny Czajkowski and Kym DiStaso have their pet Great Danes: Nala, a black and white, and Dozer, a fawn who weighs in at 175 pounds.

The show will air on Cablevision Channel 21 on two consecutive Sundays, Jan. 13 and Jan. 20, at 6:30 p.m. And in case you missed last fall's show on the Morris County Sheriff's Office K-9 unit dogs, you can see it again preceding the Great Dane show at 6:00 p.m. on each of those dates.

To see the Great Danes currently available for adoption, to donate to MAGDRL, to volunteer with the organization, or to obtain more information, visit the Web site at www.magdrl-nj.com.