Hustle Hard: How one Houston Co. veterinarian went from zero to millions

Dr. Vernard Hodges is local veterinarian with a passion to serve both pets and people.

Growing up in a Fort Valley trailer park, Hodges admits as a child he was on the wrong path, and he learned the hard way that success comes with sacrifice.

From running the streets with drug dealers to failing ninth grade, Hodges turned his life around and redefined what it means to 'hustle hard.'

Now, he's sharing his heart and skills by inspiring others to 'bet on themselves.'

He's known as the ‘Critter Fixer.’

“I've never met a more caring person for the animals and for the people who own the animals,” said patient Renee Crawford.

“When I used to tell my friends that I wanted to be a veterinarian, they used to say, "What? Really?"

And I said, ‘yes, that's what I want to do,’” said Hodges.

His friends had their doubts, and at first so did Hodges.

For a while, life beyond his circumstances seemed limited.

To this day, he's never met his birth father.

Living on a dirt road in Fort Valley, Hodges was raised in a trailer park with his mom.

“It's a place I probably don't want to remember. This is where I grew up,” said Hodges. “I'll never forget it. It had a two-foot hole in the floor. And we tried to cover it up with a sheet of plywood. It was quite embarrassing.”

Instead of excelling in class, Hodges ran the streets.

After failing ninth grade, his goal of practicing medicine seemed out of reach.

“I fell into the pitfalls that most kids do. Not having the mindset or the guidance to do the things that were right,” said Hodges.

But just around the corner he found hope for his future. That life could be different.

“There was a man that lived in a big house down the street and he was a vet. He became my mentor.

Fourteen years later, that same man wrote my letter of recommendation to veterinarian school.”

In 1997, Hodges graduated from Tuskegee University with a degree in veterinary medicine.

Nearly 20 years later, he runs his own private practice treating nearly 25,000 pets each year.

“A lot of people go to vet school and learn how to be a vet, but not everyone learns how to run a business,” said Alfred Johnson, with the Critter Fixer.

“We've trained about 40 vets here that have gone on to do other things and it’s a blessing,” said Hodges.

His success and businesses continue to grow.

Dr. Hodges now owns and leases more than 100 real estate properties in Central Georgia.

He mentors young children through his foundation and he’s now a self- published author.

He says looking back on his life, one thing rings true.

“God will always take of you when you try and do the right thing,” said Hodges.

And the most valuable investment you'll ever make is learning to bet on yourself.