Mia was a Katrina rescue who became involved, with her mommy Cathy Scott, with the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary of Kanab, Utah. She lived a very full life meeting many other dogs in need.

But too few years later it was discovered she had a heart defect, which would shorten her life considerably. Cathy wrote this moving account of Mia's burial service:

"It could not have been a better or more sweet ceremony. Good friends who work at different areas of the sanctuary were there, including Sherry Woodard, animal behavior expert, Best Friends co-founders Faith Maloney and Anne Mejia, and Yvonne McIntosh, who runs Best Friends' potbellied pig department.

"Jennifer Hayes, an editor for Best Friends' Web site, took beautiful photos. Also there were Sandy Miller, a Best Friends writer, adoption coordinators Pat and Larry Donoho, animal caregivers Kersten Muthreich and Joyce Wallace, and adoptions manager Kristi Littrell. Mia touched so many; they gave her much love and Mia, who had such a big heart, returned it with gusto."

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