Everyone loves a story about true friendship, whether it’s animals or people. Fortunately for us, this one has both! 

Cole MS Dean Victoria Cruz & Restorative Justice Coordinator Megan Bhatia met back in January, when Megan came in for an interview at Cole MS. Their similarities were uncanny- both had attended DU for graduate studies, both studied counseling, both worked in Youth Corrections for the same company, and now, both are working at DSST: Cole. While they may have missed each other before, it was inevitable that they would become friends. Students and staff commented on how much they resembled each other in both looks and demeanor, and so they began to joke and call each other “twin”, and even convinced some students that they were identical! 

To this day, some students believe that Megan (left) and Victoria (right) are related!  

Megan works as Restorative Justice Coordinator (RJC) at Cole MS, and as a Licensed Therapist, she equips students with the tools to communicate their feelings effectively, resolve conflict, and teach them ways to advocate for themselves. She is passionate about empowering students to use positive social skills in their lives, and she loves watching students break out of their behavior cycles to introduce positive change. 

Victoria is the Dean of Students at Cole MS and has a front-row seat to how culture systems play out and impact Cole’s student culture. She loves hearing teacher feedback on how these systems make them impactful and productive educators, as well as the pride in a student’s face for their own moments of growth.

Not only did Megan and Victoria become fast friends- so did their dogs, Miya and Sasha, who they like to refer to as “cousins.” 

Pictured from left: Miya & Sasha

Megan rescued Miya, who her vet believes is a Doberman/Lab mix, from Douglas County Canine Rescue when she was only 3 months old. In a room full of barking dogs, she was the only one serene and unbothered. Megan waited several hours for her foster parent to return so she could ask him about Miya’s demeanor, but when he never returned, the adoption event had ended, and all of her siblings had been adopted except for her, it was a sign she had to take her home.

Miya will be 2 on January 21!

Miya has quite a healthy appetite and sometimes will sit her snout right under the table and keep her eyes keen on the floor looking for crumbs. She especially loves cheese, whipped cream, peanut butter, and bananas.

Foodie to the end, Miya was a hot dog for Halloween this year.

Her favorite activity is doing zoomies around the living room after stealing socks, as well as annihilating every stuffed animal she lays her eyes on and leaving their stuffing around the house for Megan to find. 

Miya also enjoys being the neighborhood squirrel patrol, snow or shine.

Just a few buildings away lives Miya’s Keeshond cousin, Sasha.

Victoria has had 1 year old Sasha since she was just 8 weeks old and a tiny ball of fluff. Sasha hails from sunny California, but also loves the snow in CO.

Sasha unfortunately fell ill this past February, and was diagnosed with a steroid-responsive meningitis. The Cole MS community rallied around Victoria and Sasha to raise money for Sasha to receive the proper testing and treatment, and Victoria is deeply grateful for their generosity that helped afford the care Sasha otherwise wouldn’t be able to receive. Megan created a GoFundMe page, joined her at the vet appointments, and helped give Sasha medicine if Victoria couldn’t be home.  

Sasha is now thriving, wearing adorable yellow jackets and going wild for sugar snap peas.

You could say that Sasha and Miya are each other’s ride or die. Victoria and Megan often find that when one is disciplined, the other isn’t far behind barking for them to back down.

Once, Megan was babysitting the two friends, and Miya was placed in her time-out crate for trying to steal cookies from the counter. As Megan went to fold laundry, she heard someone fiddling with the crate- as she snuck around the corner to see what mischief was happening, she found Sasha using her snout to try and break Miya out of time out! 

Sasha and Miya breaking free!

 Miya and Sasha are both feeling the holiday spirit this year, and wish you a very happy Giving & Cheer!