JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In a somber gathering, candlelight illuminated the entrance of Animal Care and Protective Services in Riverside this evening as the community came together to honor Miracle.

Miracle, a three-year-old Great Dane, tragically died after being rescued earlier this month in a severely malnourished and dehydrated state.

“It’s heartening to witness the community rally for a dog they never knew,” remarked Animal Care Officer Stratton during the vigil.

A few weeks ago, Stratton was assigned to the case that quickly became emotionally significant for her.

“I was present when he arrived and when he passed away,” Stratton shared. “This case has deeply affected me on a personal level.”

Stratton was called out after a Good Samaritan found a Great Dane by the side of the road on the Northside, which she determined only had a .5 on the Purina Body Condition Score, which typically ranges from 1-9.

But this dog, which ACPS named Miracle, was dehydrated, starved and had open wounds across its body.

“He was not able to drink or eat,” said Stratton. “His body couldn’t handle it anymore.”

Miracle ultimately passed away, with a necropsy listing the cause of death as starvation and dehydration.

Stratton received several tips, including one that said the owner would regularly strike the dog, leave him in the crate, pour cold water on him and feed him chocolate hoping he’d die.

Those tips led Stratton to 42-year-old Dawn Lipford, who was arrested on an animal cruelty charge.

“To see a dog that should be so big and powerful so small, skinny and fragile, it’s just a very sad sight, so I think it resonated with a lot of people,” said Jax ACPS Division Chief Mike Bricker.

Stratton and the team at ACPS organized a vigil for Miracle that brought out community members and dogs, to make sure his story isn’t forgotten.

“We’re going to be using Miracle for some educational purposes and using his story to help further educate the community to help keep something like this from ever happening again,” said Stratton.

Stratton says it can be tough to keep doing her job after a case ends like this, but she has a reason to keep powering through.

“It’s not the only case out there,” said Stratton. “We couldn’t save him, but we can save the next one.”

First Coast News also talked with an employee at the store that sold Miracle initially back in 2023.

They said the team there was broken-hearted about the news because they get attached to the dogs, and said they were particularly shocked given that Oak sold for $3000.

Court records show Lipford bonded out, but she’ll be in court Tuesday on the animal cruelty charge.