VCA Animal Hospitals

{{Short description|Chain of animal hospitals}}

{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}

{{Use MDY dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox company

| name = VCA, Inc.

| logo = VCA_logo.svg

| trade_name = VCA Animal Hospitals

| type = Subsidiary

| founded = {{start date and age|1986}}

| founders = Neil Tauber
Robert Antin
Arthur Antin

| hq_location_city = Los Angeles, California

| hq_location_country = United States

| num_locations = 1000+ animal hospitals

| num_locations_year = 2020

| areas_served = United States and Canada

| revenue = {{US$}}2.1 billion

| revenue_year = 2015

| owner =

| num_employees = 27,100

| num_employees_year = 2018

| parent = Mars Petcare

| subsid = Sound/Antech Imaging Services
Camp Bow Wow

| website = {{url|http://vcahospitals.com/}}

}}

VCA, Inc., doing business as VCA Animal Hospitals, operates more than 1,000 animal hospitals in the US and Canada.{{cite journal |last=Wogan |first=Lisa |title=Washington state veterinary practice ratifies union contract |url= https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&Id=9789104 |website=VIN.com |publisher=Veterinary Information Network |access-date=September 18, 2020 |date=August 27, 2020}} The company is based in Los Angeles, and was founded in 1986.{{Cite journal |url= http://news.vin.com/vinnews.aspx?articleId=32842 |title=VCA Inc.: Gentle giant or takeover threat? |last=Lau |first=Edie |date=July 11, 2014 |work=VIN.com |publisher=Veterinary Information Network |access-date=November 8, 2018}} Until its acquisition by Mars Inc. in 2017, VCA traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker "WOOF".{{Cite news |url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-01-05/when-big-business-happens-to-your-pet |title=The High-cost, High-risk World of Modern Pet Care |last=Clenfield |first=Jason |date=January 5, 2017 |work=Bloomberg News |access-date=November 8, 2018}}

VCA was founded in 1986 by three health care company executives,{{Cite news |url= https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/170301a.aspx |title=Veterinarians Incorporated |last=Larkin |first=Malinda |date=March 1, 2017 |work=JAVMA News |publisher=American Veterinary Medical Association |access-date=November 8, 2018}} Neil Tauber and brothers Robert and Arthur Antin. The name is an abbreviation of Veterinary Centers of America, though VCA no longer uses this full name. VCA acquired its first veterinary clinic, West Los Angeles Veterinary Hospital, in 1987.

In October 2004, VCA purchased Sound Technologies,{{Cite news |url= https://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=13338 |title=VCA Antech expands its foray into medical technology by buying Eklin |last=Lau |first=Edie |date=July 11, 2009 |work=VIN.com |publisher=Veterinary Information Network |access-date=November 8, 2018}} a company which supplied digital radiology and ultrasound equipment to veterinary hospitals.{{Cite news |title=VCA Antech, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Sound Technologies, Inc. |url= https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20041004005436/en/VCA-Antech-Announces-Acquisition-Sound-Technologies |access-date=November 8, 2018 |work=Business Wire |date=October 4, 2004 }} In July 2009, VCA purchased diagnostic imaging company Eklin Medical Systems, which was combined with Sound Technologies to form Sound/Antech Imaging Services.{{Cite news |url= http://news.vin.com/vinnews.aspx?articleId=45149 |title=The dark side of modern X-ray equipment |last=Lau |first=Edie |date=June 8, 2017 |work=VIN.com |publisher=Veterinary Information Network |access-date=November 8, 2018}}

In 2014, VCA acquired the dog day care center Camp Bow Wow, which had about 140 franchises in the US and one in Canada;{{Cite news |url= https://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/12/camp-bow-wows-westminster-office/ |title=Camp Bow Wow's new corporate offices in Westminster take dog-friendly to the next level |last=Rusch |first=Emilie |date=June 12, 2017 |work=The Denver Post |access-date=November 8, 2018}} and licensed the Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa brand in Westlake Village, California, from Beverly Hills Pet Hotels, Inc.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

On January 9, 2017, Mars Inc. announced its intention to purchase VCA for $9.1 billion, operating it as an independent unit within the Mars Petcare division.{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-vca-mars-20170109-story.html |title=Candy maker Mars is buying L.A. animal hospital chain VCA for $7.7 billion |last=Peltz |first=James F. |date=January 9, 2017 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=August 10, 2017}} VCA CEO Bob Antin remained in his position.{{Cite news |url= https://www.businessinsider.com/mars-to-buy-vca-2017-1 |title=Mars is buying a pet health company for $9.1 billion |last=Crowe |first=Portia |date=January 9, 2017 |work=Business Insider |access-date=August 10, 2017}}