Who We Are
About The Pet Brigade
Owned and run by two registered nurses who show Australian Shepherds and have kept animals their whole lives.
History On JBLM
Who owns The Pet Brigade and when did it open?
The Pet Brigade is owned and operated by Regis and Nancy Jackson and opened on 14 April 2008, after several years of work with the Contracting Office of the U.S. Department of the Army and the Office of Morale, Welfare and Recreation at JBLM. It is a full-service pet spa on the installation itself.
The Pet Brigade is a full-service pet spa owned and operated by Regis and Nancy Jackson. It is the only privately owned boarding facility on a military post in the United States. The Jacksons worked with Joint Base Lewis-McChord personnel to develop the kennel so that military families, retirees and civilians with JBLM access would have the finest accommodation for their pets.
Getting there meant the Contracting Office of the U.S. Department of the Army, under the Department of Defense, and the Office of Morale, Welfare and Recreation at JBLM, which is a longer route than leasing a unit off post and is why nobody else has done it.
Rehoming, fostering and moving pets across the globe are all part of the work, not sidelines to it. Pets are an integral part of many soldiers' lives, and the kennel was founded to fill that need rather than to serve the surrounding towns.
Regis And Nancy Jackson
What are the owners' backgrounds?
Regis and Nancy Jackson are both registered nurses, which they believe helps ensure a safe environment for animals in their care. Regis holds two business degrees and a master's; Nancy holds a science degree in nursing. Both show Australian Shepherds with the AKC and the Australian Shepherd Club of America.
Regis and Nancy have two sons, are avid animal lovers, and have always had pets. They are both registered nurses, which they believe helps ensure a safe and secure environment for the animals in their care. Both are originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and have grown to call Washington home.
Showing dogs is the part that shows up in the kennel: people who spend weekends in a ring with their own Australian Shepherds have opinions about coat, handling and stress that a general manager does not.
They also own and operate Pet Ponderosa Resorts and Spas, Inc. in Graham, Washington, established in 2003 after they bought an existing kennel that had fallen into disrepair. With years of work it has grown into the largest kennel in South Pierce County and the one most often referred by area veterinarians.
Both facilities are active members of the International Boarding & Pet Services Association and follow the IBPSA code of ethics.
Hours
When is The Pet Brigade open?
The Pet Brigade handles boarding drop off and pick up Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:30pm and Saturday from 9 to 10am or 4 to 5pm, closed Sunday. Daycare runs Monday to Friday from 5:45am to 6:00pm, with Saturday by appointment. A boarding night ends at noon the following day.
Boarding, drop off and pick up
- Monday to Friday
- 9:00am - 5:30pm
Pick up 9am-12pm. Pick up 12-5:30pm carries a next-day fee. - Saturday
- 9-10am and 4-5pm
Drop off in either window. Pick up 9-10am; 4-5pm carries a next-day fee. - Sunday
- Closed
No drop off or pick up.
Daycare
- Monday to Friday
- 5:45am - 6:00pm
Full and half days. - Saturday
- By appointment
Call the office to arrange. - Sunday
- Closed
A night of boarding runs from drop off until noon the following day.
Daycare holiday closures, rest of 2026
- Columbus Day
- Monday, October 12, 2026
Daycare closed - Veterans Day
- Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Daycare closed - Thanksgiving
- Thursday, November 26, 2026
Daycare closed - Christmas Day
- Friday, December 25, 2026
Daycare closed - New Year’s Day
- Friday, January 1, 2027
Daycare closed
In Their Words
What do customers say about The Pet Brigade?
The Pet Brigade is rated 4.7 out of 5 across 622 Google reviews, checked on 3 September 2026. The three testimonials below are published on their own website with names and ranks exactly as printed, and most come from military families who boarded a pet through a deployment or a permanent change of station.
“The staff is terrific! Benny is visibly excited to be dropped off every day. They care about the animals and Benny is always in good hands.”
2nd Lts William & Kristen Johnson“My wife knew instantly from talking to you that she could trust your team. We were able to relax knowing your group of dedicated professionals was caring for our dogs.”
Terry M. Webb Jr.SMSgt, USAF“My three dogs are treated just like we treat them at home, like family. I have never had a bad experience. I will go back again and again.”
Anne ChampneyAbout Us
What do people ask about how the place is run?
The questions below are the ones that come up when a family is deciding rather than booking: whether they can see The Pet Brigade first, where it sits on JBLM, whether medication is given and at what cost, and whether dogs from the same household can be boarded in one kennel together.
Can I see the place before I book?
Yes. Stop by the office for a tour any time of day, no appointment needed. There is more on the tour page.
Where are you, and can I get to you?
04907 Pendleton Ave, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98433, on Joint Base Lewis-McChord itself, off Pendleton Avenue near the Lewis Army Museum. It is the only privately owned boarding facility on a military post in the United States. Access to the post is controlled by JBLM, not by the kennel, so if you do not hold a DoD ID, call the office before you drive out: (253) 912-4898.
Can you give my pet medication?
Yes, and there is no extra charge for it. Bring the medication in its own packaging with the dosing written down, and tell the office at drop off. Both owners are registered nurses, which is a large part of why the kennel is run the way it is.
I have three dogs. Can they board together, and do they get outside?
Yes to both. Family quarters are larger kennels for households with more than one pet, so dogs who live together can stay together. Every dog is outside for fresh air whenever they are not sleeping in their bunk, and the day includes community play time, walk time and, in summer, the pools.
Next Step
Ready when you are.
Boarding, daycare and grooming book through PawPartner. Everything else is a phone call.