An American bulldog will be kept away from wombats by his relieved owner after being rescued from a hole on the NSW south coast.
The local community banded together to dig for seven hours to free Brooklyn from the hole near Nowra, where he was stuck for more than two days.
The 42-kilogram pooch has been reunited with his owner Charlie Griffin, who refused to give up when rescuers ended the official search in the belief Brooklyn had died.
Mr Griffin said as many as 300 people turned up, from children to the elderly, armed with lights, food and offers to do whatever they could.
"I am in complete disbelief about what happened," he told AAP.
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"I've never seen so many people come together.
"I thought my dog was going to die, and go slowly, but someone rang and said, 'You've got to get down here.'"
Through sheer people power, the rescuers managed to find Brooklyn and dig him free just before 11pm on Friday.
"They've said he's going to make a full recovery. I'm totally rapt," Mr Griffin said.
"The public of Nowra really did a great thing."
Brooklyn will once again be the star of the show in Nowra on November 14, when community members come together for a fundraiser.
Residents will raise money for groups including the RSPCA and wildlife carers who helped rescue Brooklyn. Nowra vet Katherine O'Farrell said Brooklyn was treated for dehydration and a few superficial grazes, and will spend a few days recuperating at the RSPCA before being returned to Mr Griffin.
Fire and Rescue Superintendent David Lewis told AAP he was surprised by the outcome but commended rescuers for not giving up.
"Full credit to the community for getting in there and doing the digging to find him," Supt Lewis said.
"It's just incredible that he was found alive. It's a great happy ending."
