VCA Animal Hospitals
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Veterinary services |
| Founded | 1986 in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Founder | Neil Tauber, Robert Antin, Arthur Antin |
| Fate | Acquired by Mars Inc. in 2017 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada |
Key people | Bob Antin (CEO) |
| Products | Veterinary hospital services, veterinary medical technology, pet care services |
| Owner | Mars Inc. |
Number of employees | 27000+ (2018) |
| Parent | Mars Petcare |
| Website | vcahospitals |
VCA, Inc., known commercially as VCA Animal Hospitals, operates a network exceeding 1,000 veterinary hospitals throughout the United States and Canada. Established in 1986 by Neil Tauber along with brothers Robert and Arthur Antin, this Los Angeles-headquartered organization was initially listed on NASDAQ under the ticker "WOOF" until its 2017 purchase by Mars Inc. Mars now manages VCA as a distinct division within its Mars Petcare segment.
The acronym VCA originally stood for Veterinary Centers of America, although the full designation is no longer in active use. VCA's initial acquisition occurred in 1987 with the purchase of West Los Angeles Veterinary Hospital. In October 2004, the company broadened its scope into veterinary medical technology by acquiring Sound Technologies, a provider specializing in digital radiology and ultrasound systems. This expansion continued in 2009 when VCA acquired Eklin Medical Systems, a diagnostic imaging company, integrating both entities into Sound/Antech Imaging Services.
In 2014, VCA further extended its portfolio into pet care services through the acquisition of Camp Bow Wow, a dog daycare franchise operating roughly 140 locations across the US and one in Canada. Additionally, VCA obtained licensing rights for the Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa brand within California.
Prior to its acquisition, VCA reported revenues amounting to $2.1 billion in 2015 and maintained a workforce exceeding 27,000 employees as of 2018. Following the acquisition, CEO Bob Antin continued to lead the company, overseeing VCA’s sustained expansion within the competitive veterinary services industry.
External links
- VCAHospitals.com official website
- VCA.com corporate site