Pender Vet Doctors boasts a unique and heartwarming origin story. Founded by Dr. Don Powell and Dr. Mark Johnson, what is now a leading veterinary practice began within the walls of the old Pender Methodist Church, originally constructed in 1902. These visionary veterinarians purchased the church and embarked on a personal mission of transformation, converting the sacred space into the first Pender Veterinary Centre. After dedicating months to the hands-on building and renovation work, they proudly opened their doors to the community on Memorial Day in 1971.
Fresh out of veterinary school – Dr. Powell from Cornell University and Dr. Johnson from Ohio State – the two doctors were the sole practitioners at the start. They organically grew their practice, patient by patient, driven by a client-centric philosophy that set them apart. Unlike many veterinary clinics of the era, Pender Vet Doctors committed to being available whenever their clients and their beloved pets needed care, regardless of the hour. They deeply understood that veterinary care extended beyond the animal, recognizing the emotional connection and support needed by the pet owner, “the person on the end of the leash.”
Recognizing the distinct needs of boarding pets, Pender Vet Doctors expanded their services in 1979 with the opening of Dulles Gateway Kennels, located on the grounds that would later become Pender Pet Retreat in Chantilly, VA. This innovative facility, operating under veterinary oversight, prioritized pet wellness, offering activity and affection for pets while their owners were away – a novel concept at the time.
The year 1987 marked another significant milestone with the opening of a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital adjacent to Fair Oaks Mall. This modern facility became the new home for Pender Vet Doctors, starting with a team of nine associate veterinarians. Demonstrating consistent growth, they expanded by nearly one clinician annually, evolving into a comprehensive 24-hour emergency hospital with over 30 veterinarians, serving more than 30,000 pets each year.
Furthering their commitment to comprehensive pet care, 2007 saw the expansion of Dulles Gateway Kennels into the 26,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art Pender Pet Retreat at Dulles Gateway. This rebranding and expansion introduced specialized amenities, including a dedicated quiet area for cats, a full pet spa, luxurious executive suites equipped with 24-hour webcams and TVs, 200 additional pet housing spaces, on-site caretaker apartments, and an incredibly convenient on-site veterinary clinic offering wellness, emergency, diagnostic, and surgical services. In 2017, outdoor facilities were enhanced with a 2,800 square foot four-season pavilion for doggie daycare group play and the transformation of individual playschool yards with dog-friendly turf. These upgrades, combined with the existing 6-acre hiking trail and on-site Public Dog Park, solidified Pender Pet Retreat’s position as a premier pet care destination, offering a home-away-from-home experience.
“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
