She was rescued on Monday by the Warrumbungle Wildlife Shelter’s Tanya O’Donoghue, who spent hours coaxing the trembling dog away from the garbage bin she was hiding near.

The red stumpy-tailed cattle dog had sustained a skin injury from being restrained, Tanya said, and was visibly frightened of people.

“I was in tears,” Tanya said. “It was haunting.”

“When she finally went ‘I trust you’ – I was sitting on the ground and she put her head on my lap and she pawed my lap and looked up at me and it was just magical.”

After an outpouring of support on social media on Monday, a Mendooran family came forward to house the “beautiful animal”. All going well, it could become her permanent home.

Tanya now wants to build yards at the shelter, “so I can take in domestic animals that can’t be re-homed”.

For details on how to donate to the shelter visit www.facebook.com/warrumbunglewildlife/