An animal rescue group is urging people to take pets they can no longer care for directly to rescue groups or shelters.
In June, six-month-old Trixie was offered up "free to a good home" on social media by her Bundaberg owners who were no longer able to care for her.
About a fortnight later she was picked up by a council animal control team as a stray with multiple lacerations to her face.
Trixie was saved from the pound by local rescue group Red Collar Rescue before she ended up with foster carers associated with Happy Tails Animal Rescue.
Happy Tails posted Trixie's story to Facebook last Friday, where it has since been shared more than 8,800 times, with thousands of comments from people sharing their anger over her injuries.