A 14-year-old girl has raised $14,000 for senior dogs that have been left behind with the goal of helping them find a forever home like she did when she was adopted.
Meena Kumar at 9 months old was found abandoned in a basket on a college campus in Pune, India. After spending a year in an orphanage, she was adopted by a couple in Mumbai and brought to San Jose, California.
![Meena Kumar, 14, helps abandoned senior dogs get a second chance. (Courtesy of Jayashree Subrahmonia)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2F03%2FAn-adopted-14-year-old-girl-is-helping-senior-dogs-find-a-forever-home-just-like-she-did0.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
In Mumbai, Meena would watch over a litter of puppies at her home. When she came to the United States, almost every weekend included a trip to the Humane Society or to Muttville Senior Dog Rescue.
![Meena Kumar pet sits in her home to raise money for Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. (Courtesy of Jayashree Subrahmonia)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2F03%2FAn-adopted-14-year-old-girl-is-helping-senior-dogs-find-a-forever-home-just-like-she-did1.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Meena first heard of the rescue from a neighbor whose dog had been adopted from Muttville. The neighbor shared stories of how senior dogs are often left behind in shelters. With tender love and care, those dogs can make great companions.
“More people should adopt senior dogs,” says Meena. “They give you the same unconditional love as any other dog.”
Meena understood what it felt like to be left behind, and wanted to help the senior dogs find the loving homes they deserve, just like she did. However, the problem was Meena had to be 17 years old to volunteer at Muttville, and she was only 12.
Meena began pet sitting in her own home for her neighbors and school friends with the goal of supporting Muttville. “You are never too young to start a business,” says Meena.
![Meena Kumar pet sitting at her home. (Courtesy of Jayashree Subrahmonia)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2F03%2FAn-adopted-14-year-old-girl-is-helping-senior-dogs-find-a-forever-home-just-like-she-did2-1.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Meena plans to continue working with Muttville and hopes that more people will adopt older mutts from shelters during this pandemic.
![(Illustration - Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2F04%2FMeena-Kumar.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
“We need their love more than ever,” she says.