AURORA, Colo. -- A woman who is accused of starving one dog to death and nearly killing the other by not feeding it will be charged with two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, a district attorney announced Wednesday.

Kristy Knecht, 29, has not been arrested but has been issued a summons to appear in court.

The two charges she faces are class six felonies, punishable up to 18 months in jail and a $100,000 fine. However, she could get as little as probation, said Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers.

Animal control officials who were called Knecht's home, located on South Uvalda Street and Mississippi Avenue, found one dog so hungry that its ribs were protruding from his skin and he was nibbling on the carcass of the other dog.

Neighbors said at least one investigator was physically sickened by what he saw on Aug. 21.

"There was dog feces inside," said Margaret Freiburger, a neighbor. "One of the dogs had passed, and let's say the other dog had to find a way to survive."

Neighbors said Knecht had not been staying in her home this summer and was not adequately feeding the two dogs, a white German shepherd and a Belgian Malinois.

The German shepherd died in the home and the Belgian Malinois is slowly recuperating at an animal clinic in Aurora.

The 4-year-old Belgian Malinois named Neeko had weighed just 30 pounds, less than half his normal body weight. Doctors at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital said Neeko is still weak, but he's getting better.

Chambers said there was a lot of discussion in her office as to whether to charge Knecht with a misdemeanor or a more serious felony but she was charged with the serious offense because the case was entirely avoidable.

"People should know that if they're having problems with their dogs, abandoning them, or not feeding them is not a choice because that just leads to bigger problems," Chambers said.

"It's just sad for someone to have pets and not take care of them," said neighborhood resident Nathan Scott.

Knecht apparently moved back into the house over the weekend. She declined to answer when 7NEWS Reporter Lance Hernandez knocked on the door.

Neighbors said they periodically see Knecht dancing in her yard, waving a stick and cursing at them.

"We feel the aggravated felony charges are appropriate," said Cheryl Conway of the Aurora Animal Division. "The extent of the trauma this animal (the surviving dog) suffered rises above a misdemeanor."

Vets said Neeko will likely remain hospitalized for two more months as they try to nurse him back to health.

"His metabolism was down to zero," Conway said, "so they're slowly trying to jump-start his metabolism without overstressing his internal organs."

With Neeko's medical bills rising several viewers have asked how they can help.

Conway said checks can be written to the Aurora Animal Shelter, Attention: Veterinary Care, 15750 E. 32nd Ave., Aurora CO 80011.

"She just totally left them, left them to fend for themselves," said Freiburger, who lives down the street. "She said she was feeding them all along, but for that to have happened, she couldn’t have fed them more than once a week, if at all."

Frieburger said Knecht refused offers to help look after the dogs, and indicated relatives were feeding them.

A neighbor contacted animal control when she didn't see the dogs barking in the window as they usually do.