There are good neighbours too

There's a Great Dane across the street. I've watched him grow from a puppy that tripped over his too-long legs every second step to a self-assured master of his domain. He's gorgeous and has a deep throaty bark that resonates behind my ribs. If I'm out in my front yard when he's coming home from his walk, he comes over to say hello, all legs and toothy smile and curiosity.

I don't have actual photos of him because I never have my camera with me when I see him, but he looks like this one, only with floppy ears.

[image error] Image from: http://www.desktopcave.com/great-dane-desktop-wallpaper/, accessed 14/2/13
His owners are a slim, short couple, barely taller than he is. It's obvious they adore him. I hear them playing sometimes and they take him for a walk every afternoon. He's well-trained and obedient.

One afternoon, they were coming down the street on their way home from their walk, when the fluffy terrier that belongs to the Neighbours From Hell rushed out onto the road and attacked the dane, who had been walking calmly on his lead, beside his owner. The little dog was in the unfenced front yard with the children (no adult). The dane, of course, defended himself, and picked the little terrier up and shook it before the dane's owner rescued the little dog.

The kids began screaming, then the mother came downstairs and started screaming abuse and threatening to have the dane put down. The poor dane and his owner didn't know what to do, except flee.

I told the nice dane-owner if he needed a character reference for his dog, I'd be happy to supply one.

The neighbourhood has been a thrill-a-minute since the Neighbours From Hell moved in.