Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
For Selenia Gonzalez, success isn’t just measured in business growth, it’s also measured in wagging tails and the opportunity to be present for her children.
The returning South Texas College (STC) Interdisciplinary Studies alumna, through STC’s new Continuing Education Dog Grooming course, has transformed her love for dogs into a home-based grooming business, proving that it is never too late to reinvent yourself and build a career that aligns with both passion and family.
After years of working in federal, state and community roles, Gonzalez made the bold decision at 40-years-old to pursue a new path, one that would allow her to work independently while serving pets and their owners with personalized care.
“I needed something where I could work for myself, make my own schedule while also providing and being present for my children,” she said.
Her love for dogs and admiration for the grooming process inspired her to take the leap.
“I always admired the grooming process when I would take my dog to the groomers and thought it was such a cool career,” she said. “I thought, how cool would it be if I could do something like that?”
After completing the program, Gonzalez initially considered working under another groomer to gain experience. However, she quickly realized that doing so would defeat her goal of becoming her own boss. Instead, she began grooming from home, charging basic bath prices while she refined her skills and built her clientele.
“I decided I would fix up my workspace and work on my own instead and it has been an awesome experience ever since,” she said.
Operating a small, home-based salon allows Gonzalez to provide personalized, one-on-one care. She works individually with each dog from start to finish and keeps pet owners or “paw-rents,” updated throughout the process with texts and photos.
“I personally like to give the “paw-rent” updates on the grooming process,” she said. “I am a small salon and do not house many dogs at a time, which allows me to concentrate on each one.”
For Gonzalez, the most rewarding part of her work is seeing both pets and their owners happy.
“There’s personal satisfaction in helping doggies with matting, fleas or nails, that are so long they can’t walk correctly, get a restart to their well-being,” she said. “And seeing the ‘paw-rent’ satisfied with the groom makes it all worth it.”
Her children have also become part of the experience, often peeking through the door to watch her work and offering to help entertain dogs while they wait to be picked up.
“They enjoy seeing the doggies that stop by,” she said. “It’s special to have them witness what I do and be apart of it in their own little way.”
Like many entrepreneurs, Gonzalez has faced challenges. Learning how to properly price services, managing aggressive dogs and working alone in case of injury have all required growth and resilience.
“Believing in my ability to do the work and referring back to what I’ve learned has helped me overcome challenges,” she said.
Gonzalez credits STC for preparing her with foundational skills beyond grooming techniques, including customer service, phone etiquette, proper animal handling, kennel safety and cleanliness. She said hands-on training with industry professionals helped her apply what she learned in online modules to real-world situations.
“Every dog is different and every “paw-rent” has different expectations, so it’s a continuous learning process,” she said.
Starting her business required significant sacrifices, including investing time and money into program costs, tools, equipment and building a functional workspace. Many weekends are dedicated to growing her craft.
“It has all paid off because I love what I do,” she said. “Being able to work from home, stay present for my children and control my schedule for me is priceless.”
Looking ahead, Gonzalez hopes to attend workshops to continue expanding her skills while serving the dogs and families in her community. Above all, she wants pet owners to know their companions are cared for with compassion and attention.
“I want them to feel that I care about their pet, that I’ve tried my best to meet their expectations and that I’ve taken the best care of their doggie while under my care,” she said.
Through determination, training and a heart for animals, Gonzalez has created not just a business, but a meaningful balance between family, passion and purpose.
“I want to encourage others to not be afraid to try something new,” she says. “I was 40 when I decided to give myself a chance to change careers and I believe it was the best decision I could’ve made.”
For more information on STC’s Dog Grooming program, visit: southtexascollege.edu/cpit/courses/career/dog-grooming/.
Information source: STC
