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ESCANABA -- It's a devastating case of animal neglect.

The Gladstone veterinarian treating the dog says it's the worst case of neglect she's seen since she started practicing in the U.P. 15 years ago. Hannahville Tribal Police are currently investigating the case.

You’ll normally find dogs wagging their tails. But at close look, you’ll spot something different about eight-year-old Kilo's tail.

“For me, it was really pretty devastating,” explains Dr. Sue Laskaska of Bay Veterinary Clinic. “He had deep wounds over his joints where the tissue had essentially worn away right down to the bones. He had actually bitten off the tip of his own tail. He was so thin, you could count every rib in his body."

The Black Lab/German Shepherd mix is owned by an Escanaba resident who asked that we not reveal her identity. Twelve months ago she moved into an apartment and couldn't keep Kilo. She asked her now ex-boyfriend's parents to take care of him at their home in Wilson.

She said when she got him a year later, he looked starved--just 62 pounds. But in the last week that Kilo's been reunited with her, she says he's been doing well and has managed to gain 14 pounds.

TV6 made several attempts to contact the police regarding this case, but none of our calls were returned.

As for Kilo, his road to recovery is rocky. He's tested positive for heartworms.

“I was just scared that he was going to die,” his owner says. “He was so skinny, but my initial reaction is that I was shocked and angry."

So how is he faring now?          

“He seems kind of depressed and anxious sometimes. He’s nervous around certain people. He was never like that before," his owner explains.

Kilo still has a long way to go. His vet said his emotional wounds are going to take much longer to heal.