A rescue centre has finally found a new home for an abused dog who had been without an owner for almost eight years.

Staff at Dogwood Animal Shelter in Missouri, US, were inundated with messages after they shared a photo of ‘good girl’ Ginger sat in her cage on their website.

The emotional plea showed a sign stuck to her cage, which read: “Hi, I’m Ginger, I’ve been here waiting for seven years, nine months, two weeks and two days.

“I’m a good girl. I promise. I just need a second chance”.

Ginger had been rescued from an abusive situation, which left her with ‘medical, emotional, and behavioural issues’ and meant that she was ‘unadoptable for quite some time’.

But after seeing the heartbreaking message, a new owner finally came to the rescue and has given the Labrador-Retriever mix a second chance.

Sharing the fantastic news, the centre posted a photo of Ginger, which read: “Ginger has gone home!

“Her adopter has no children and no pets, has a fenced in yard and experience with dogs with dispositions similar to Ginger’s!

“A huge thank you to Carole Nowicki for posting Ginger’s story, to Scott Poore for re-posting and to every one of you who shared it!

“We’re very grateful to those who cheered us on and kept the faith that Ginger would finally have the loving, comfy home she deserves!”

Prior to her finding a new home, the shelter shared a video of Ginger, showing her playing with one of her toys, and thanked people for their kind words and help in the search for an owner.

The clip’s caption read: “Thank you for the outpouring of concern about Ginger.

“Like most rescue dogs, Ginger came in to Dogwood with her own set of medical, emotional and behavioural issues which made her unadoptable for a long time.

“Dogwood’s staff and volunteers have diligently worked to address those issues and to locate a suitable home for her.

“She is and has been adoptable. The fact that she would be best placed in a home with no other animals or small children has narrowed the possibilities, but we never give up trying.”

Visitors to the page piled into the comments to offer financial and other help in getting a new owner.

One person wrote: “I will pay the adoption fees for someone that wants her. From Australia there is not much else I can do, but I am sure there is a loving home out there for this baby.”

Good luck, Ginger.