Dr. Don Powell and Dr. Mark Johnson purchased the historic Pender Methodist Church, originally built in 1902, and transformed it into the first Pender Veterinary Centre. After personally renovating the building, they opened it to the public on Memorial Day in 1971. Fresh out of veterinary school—Dr. Powell from Cornell University and Dr. Johnson from Ohio State—they started their practice together and gradually built their clientele through word of mouth. Their unique philosophy emphasized being available to clients and pets whenever care was needed, regardless of the hour. They also recognized the importance of caring for the pet owner, understanding that veterinary care extends beyond the pet alone.
In 1979, recognizing the need for a separate space for boarding pets, they opened a luxury pet boarding facility, now known as Pender Pet Retreat, in Chantilly, VA. The facility was designed to prioritize the well-being of pets, offering them affection and activity while their owners were away.
In 2007, the retreat expanded with the addition of a 26,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art animal housing facility. This expansion included a quiet area for cats, a full pet spa, executive suites with 24-hour webcams and TVs, 200 additional spaces for dogs, more office space, and an on-site veterinary clinic offering wellness, emergency, diagnostic, and surgical services.
In 2017, outdoor amenities were further enhanced with a 2,800-square-foot four-season pavilion for Pender Pack doggie daycare group play and upgraded individual playschool yards with dog-friendly turf. These outdoor features, along with the six-acre hiking trail where all boarding dogs are walked and an on-site public dog park, have helped Pender Pet Retreat become an exceptional alternative to leaving pets at home.
“When we started Pender, we were just two years out of veterinary school, and we thought we could do it better. We thought that we could explain disease and what was going on with the animal much better than it was being explained in other practices. But we also planned on doing emergencies 24 hours a day. At that time there were no emergency hospitals in the area. You could try to find a veterinarian at night … and good luck! We decided that we would not refuse anyone, so our days ended up being very long. We were typically here 12–14 hours and it wasn’t unusual to come out twice a night to see emergencies. Now, we give assistance to animals 24 hours a day and there’s always a doctor in the hospital 365 days a year.”
– Dr. Don Powell
“My partner Don Powell and I met at a Northern Virginia Medical Association meeting. We hit it off very well; on his day off Don would ride with me and we would dream about things we wanted to do in the future. We knew we both wanted to be entrepreneurs … and we decided to form a partnership. So we searched for about a year and a half until we found a run down Methodist church that was built in 1902. We would do the painting and much of the carpentry. We would work until two o’clock in the morning in coveralls, take a phone call, take off the coveralls and put on a white coat to see an emergency. The first dog that Don saw in that hospital—the examining table was two sawhorses and a sheet of plywood.”
– Dr. Mark Johnson
Staying at the Pender Pet Resort ensures your pet receives top-notch care, a comfortable environment, and plenty of personalized attention, making it a home away from home.
Reserve Now!
