VCA Animal Hospitals

VCA Animal Hospitals is a trade name of veterinary company VCA, Inc. (Veterinary Centers of America), an operator of more than 750 animal hospitals in the US and Canada, and owner of more than 50 veterinary diagnostic laboratories. The company is based in Los Angeles, and was founded in 1986. Until its aquisition by Mars in 2017, VCA traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker "WOOF".

VCA was founded in 1986 by three health care company executives, Neil Tauber and brothers Robert (Bob) and Arthur (Art) Antin. VCA acquired its first veterinary clinic, West Los Angeles Veterinary Hospital, in 1987.

In October 2004, VCA purchased Sound Technologies, a company which supplied digital radiology and ultrasound equipment to veterinary hospitals. In July 2009, VCA purchased diagnostic imaging company Eklin Medical Systems, which was combined with Sound Technologies to form Sound/Antech Imaging Services.

In 2014, VCA acquired the dog day care center Camp Bow Wow, which had about 140 franchises in the US and one in Canada.

On January 9, 2017, Mars Inc. announced its intention to purchase VCA for $9.1 billion, operating it as an independent unit within Mars Petcare. VCA CEO Bob Antin remained in his position.