What makes Rosie stand out, however, is that she's deaf.

As an official charity partner of this year's Canberra Times Fun Run, the RSPCA is seeking much-needed donations to help care for animals like Rosie while they wait for adoption.

RSPCA volunteers discovered the stray Australian cattle dog was deaf when they realised she was not responding to commands after she was brought into the shelter a little more than a month ago.

Despite her impairment, Rosie is a very smart dog and has been responding well to sign language training.

RSPCA ACT chief executive officer Tammy Ven Dange says the person who adopts Rosie must be a "special owner" who can give her a good life and a safe environment.

"What we need the most is a person with a big heart, not so much who knows training because that can be taught," she said.

"We need someone that cares about an animal like this and is willing to give her the time she needs.

"Certainly a good owner who is willing to put some time into her will get a great pet out of her."

Many runners have already signed up and made the RSPCA the charity of their choice.

Ms Ven Dange says the RSPCA is "very reliant" on donations, with up to 85 per cent of their funding coming from the community.

"If we didn't have fundraisers or generous donations we wouldn't be here because we only get about 15 per cent of our funding from the government," she said.

"It costs us about $20 a day to take care of animals and that money will come right back into the shelter just to do that.

"Just the daily care for food and other things such as resourcing, that's what that pays for. It doesn't include medical costs, any additional behavioural training or any special diets."

If you would like to donate to the RSPCA for the Canberra Times Fun Run, details can be found on the fundraising website: everydayhero.com.au/event/ctfunrun2015

Registrations for the 2015 Canberra Times Fun Run are open for the 14-kilometre, 10-kilometre, and five-kilometre courses. Register at canberratimesfunrun.com.au