About Us

The idea of a pet supply store came to Jim & Joan Brown purely out of desperation. Neither had experience running a business, let alone a specialized retail business. Jim spent 27 years as a General Contractor and Joan was a stay at home mother in Minnesota. In 1974, he was transferred to his employer's southern division, spending a few years in Florida and ending up in Texas.

History

Hard work and personality are the only reason Pet Ranch exists today; the location and inexperience of owning a business, lent no reason for the store to flourish like it did! But Jim & Joan Brown opened the doors to the first Pet Ranch location on May 26, 1978 in Humble, at the corner of First and Charles Streets. In the early days, Pet Ranch specialized in AKC registered toy breed puppies in addition to pet supplies. Having only dealt with local reputable breeders, once puppy mills became more popular, they decided to stop selling puppies. In 1984, Pet Ranch opened a second location on Woodland Hills Drive in Kingwood.

In 1990, the Brown's decided to retire and sold the business to their daughter, Jan, and her husband, Kent. In the same year, Pet Ranch opened its 3rd, and current, location in Kings Crossing at the corner of Kingwood Drive and W. Lake Houston Parkway.

Spring of 1976, after getting the news that he would be transferred back to Minnesota, he and his wife and their kids, Jim and Jan, were sitting around the dinner table. They knew they did not want to go back to Minnesota, but if they stayed here, what were they going to do for work? What did they like? What were they good at? Joan threw out the idea of a pet store. They had friends in the Galleria area that owned a pet store and they got advice and help from them on how to get started, and the rest was history!

In August 2017, Pet Ranch took on 38 inches of water with Hurricane Harvey. It was three days before Jan & Kent could get into the store. Despite finding nearly everything destroyed, they knew there were people in the community that had nothing to take care of pets. So they started handing out undamaged necessities that people needed.

Jan and Kent briefly questioned whether Pet Ranch would reopen at all, given the devastation. But, over the next two weeks, they painstakingly shoveled out hundreds of pounds of wet dog food, damaged products and dead fish from the store with the help of some of their customers and the community. The love and support that they were shown in the weeks and months following Harvey, gave them no choice but to continue business in the community. They are endlessly grateful and in debt to the local community.

In 2023, they celebrated 45 years of service to the local pet community!

Jan & Kent

Kent was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area and moved to Houston in 1974. Jan had spent many years working for Hertz Rent-A-Car earning an executive position. In 1985, she left the corporate world and began managing the Pet Ranch store with her parents.

Kent met Jan in 1989 and they were married a year later. After he had spent 22 years in the retail industry, Kent joined the Pet Ranch family when he and Jan purchased the store from her parents, Jim & Joan, when they retired. In their free time, they enjoy bass fishing and spending time with their toy poodle, Cory.

Rowena - Manager & Product Curator

Originally from Essex, England, Rowena moved to New Jersey in 1991. After running a successful book import/export business with her husband for 14 years and a decade of retail experience under her belt, Rowena and her three children found themselves in Texas. She joined the Pet Ranch family in 2014. One of her favorite parts of the job is sourcing fun, new, and exciting toys to keep our shelves fresh and our furry customers happy. Outside of work, Rowena enjoys taking long walks with her dogs, lunch with friends and a good margarita.

Amber - Marketing & Customer Service Specialist

Amber joined the Pet Ranch family in January 2019, bringing with her a wealth of experience in the pet industry. She and her family—husband Scott, their two boys, and three dogs—relocated from Illinois to Texas in August 2018, and she’s been making a positive impact ever since. Before the move, Amber spent four years working for a small pet business, where she managed the grooming shop, worked as a store attendant, and handled social media and marketing. She brought that same energy and expertise to Pet Ranch, where she not only supports customers with her deep pet care knowledge but also leads our social media and website efforts. Outside of work, Amber enjoys cheering on her boys at baseball games and discovering all that Texas has to offer.

Laura - Customer Service Specialist

Laura became part of the Pet Ranch family in September 2019. A proud Texas native, she’s called Kingwood home since high school. She and her husband share their lives with three beloved fur babies—Reed, Jethro, and Penne. Before joining Pet Ranch, Laura spent five years at the front desks of local veterinary offices, where she honed both her knowledge and exceptional customer service skills. Her experience and warm demeanor make her a valued member of our team. When she’s not helping customers, Laura enjoys spending time with her husband, especially when they’re cooking together or watching foreign films.

Regan - Customer Service Specialist

Regan became part of the Pet Ranch family in March 2023. A proud super-mom of three, she stays actively involved in her children's lives—as a PTO member, room mom, and a key committee member for her youngest’s end-of-year festival. When she’s not busy juggling school activities, you’ll find her brightening up Pet Ranch with her infectious laughter and top-notch customer service. Originally a devoted cat mom, Regan’s pet family expanded in December 2024 when she adopted Lady, a German Shepherd that was found along the highway. Just weeks later, Lady surprised her with a litter of puppies! This unexpected adventure brought Regan a wealth of hands-on experience that now enhances her ability to connect with and support our customers. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and drinking a good margarita.

Glenn - Customer Service Specialist

Glenn joined the Pet Ranch family in February 2025. This brave soul entered the lioness den with all the women of Pet Ranch and has done amazing! He has grown and learned so much in just a few short months! We look forward to watching him grow as a young man and as a member of our team!