If you’re a dog person, chances are that you’ve already heard about or seen on TV Cesar Millan, the so-called “dog whisperer.” He has been one of the more popular figures in recent years when it comes to taking care of dogs or rehabilitating problematic ones.
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| Image source: cesarsway.com |
But beyond Millan’s sold-out tours, dog conventions, and well-viewed shows on nature channels, what’s endearing about him as a person is his backstory. Millan began his career by deciding to take a risk and cross the borders from his native land of Mexico into the U.S. He was in his early 20s then, eager to have a slice of the American Dream.
That illegal crossing was especially hard for the young Millan. He arrived in the streets of San Diego desperate and lacking in money, with no friends, and with barely any knowledge of conversational English. He struggled to find work, ending up homeless and living under a freeway. He eventually got a job selling hotdogs and earned a mere dollar per sale.
He’d eventually impress dog owners with his assertive yet calming way of handling dogs while working at a grooming salon. Pretty soon he would begin walking dogs in the neighborhoods. And he would do so without having the animals in leashes.
His growing dog-walking business eventually led him to founding the Dog Psychology Center in South Central Los Angeles, which handles dogs with behavioral problems. He started to catch the attention of the media, punctuated by a profile piece in the Los Angeles Times. The rest is, as they say, history: for the Mexican migrant who dared to dream big.
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| Image source: star2.com |
Edgar Gonzalez is a supporter of different causes that advocate the welfare of Mexican immigrants in Anaheim and the rest of Orange County, California. For more posts and success stories about migrants, visit this site .
