AURORA, Colo. -- There's good news about Neeko, a dog found five months ago in Aurora on the verge of dying from dehydration and malnutrition.

Neeko is now healthy enough to leave the hospital and is being placed in a foster home.

The VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital said his departure is bittersweet.

"It's very sad that we won't have that interaction with him every day, but we're glad that he's found a place that's going to take care of him," said veterinarian Barbara McLucas.

His owner, Kristy Knecht, was charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty. The home had no food or water and when he was found, he didn't have the strength to stand.

When he was taken to the hospital, he weighed only 30 pounds. Now he weighs over 62 pounds, which veterinarians say is the perfect weight for his breed.

"He's an incredible dog and he has such a strong spirit. From the moment he hit the door it was evident that he was going to do everything in his power to make it through," said McLucas.

Doctors said the Belgian Malinois was hours away from death. After being rehabilitated at the Alameda East Veterinary Hospital, he's well enough to be released to a foster home.

"It was just unreal what happened to this dog and we're going to give him all the love he needs," said his new foster family.

The selected foster family has another Belgian Malinois for Neeko to play with, which is good for both his physical and emotional welfare, said Cheryl Conway, with Aurora's Animal Care Division.

Authorities were tipped to the case last August when an anonymous caller reported that Knecht had not been staying at her home for a while, but she was keeping two large dogs on the property who were not being cared for.

Aurora Animal Control officers and police officers faced a strong stench of feces and urine as they entered the dirty and disheveled property. Officers saw Neeko and thought he was dead. However, as officers went to remove the carcass, the skeletal dog wagged his tail.

The only evidence of another dog were large tufts of white hair spread throughout the house and a few small bone fragments that showed signs of having been gnawed upon, Animal Control officers said.

A dog license attached to an empty collar coated in white fur was traced to a white German Shepherd named Nikita; owned by Knecht. Animal Control officers believe that Neeko was feeding on Nikita's carcass to stay alive.

A microchip implanted in Neeko was traced to its previous owner, a young soldier who sought a good home for his dog when he received relocation orders from the military. The soldier transferred ownership to Knecht in early July and between then and August -- when Neeko was discovered by animal control officers -- Neeko had dropped from 80 pounds to 30 pounds.

It could be another year before Knecht's court case is resolved. In the meantime, the Aurora Animal Care Division will continue to pay for Neeko's veterinary bills, follow-up visits with the physical therapist and nutritionist and for food and other essential items.

Donations on Neeko's behalf are being accepted. Donations can be mailed to:
The Aurora Animal Shelter
Attn: Veterinary Care
15750 E. 32nd Avenue
Aurora, CO 80011-1518