VCA Animal Hospitals facts for kids
VCA Animal Hospitals is a big company that runs over 1,000 animal hospitals. These hospitals are located across the United States and Canada. VCA helps take care of many pets, like dogs and cats, when they need a doctor. The company started in 1986 and has its main office in Los Angeles, California.
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Trade name
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VCA Animal Hospitals |
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| Subsidiary | |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founders | Neil Tauber Robert Antin Arthur Antin |
| Headquarters |
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United States
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Number of locations
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1000+ animal hospitals (2020) |
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Areas served
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United States and Canada |
| Revenue | US$2.1 billion (2015) |
| Owner | Mars Inc. |
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Number of employees
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27,100 (2018) |
| Parent | Mars Petcare |
| Subsidiaries | Sound/Antech Imaging Services Camp Bow Wow |
Contents
About VCA Animal Hospitals
VCA Animal Hospitals is a large network of pet hospitals. They offer many services to keep animals healthy. This includes regular check-ups, emergency care, and special treatments. VCA is a part of Mars Petcare, which is a division of Mars Inc..
How VCA Started
VCA was founded in 1986 by three people. Their names were Neil Tauber, Robert Antin, and Arthur Antin. They were all experienced in healthcare. The letters VCA stand for "Veterinary Centers of America." However, the company now just uses "VCA." In 1987, VCA bought its very first animal clinic. It was called West Los Angeles Veterinary Hospital.
Growing Bigger
Over the years, VCA grew by adding more services and businesses.
New Technologies
In 2004, VCA bought a company called Sound Technologies. This company made special digital X-ray and ultrasound machines for pet hospitals. These machines help vets see inside animals' bodies. Later, in 2009, VCA bought another company, Eklin Medical Systems. Eklin also focused on imaging technology. These two companies joined together to form Sound/Antech Imaging Services.
Pet Care Services
VCA also expanded into other pet services. In 2014, they bought Camp Bow Wow. This company offers dog day care and boarding. It had many locations across the US and Canada. VCA also started to manage the Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa. This hotel offers luxury stays for pets.
Joining Mars Petcare
On January 9, 2017, a big company called Mars Inc. announced something important. Mars Inc. decided to buy VCA for $9.1 billion. This meant VCA would become a part of Mars Petcare. Mars Petcare is a large part of Mars Inc. that focuses on pet food and pet care. Even after the purchase, Bob Antin, who was the CEO of VCA, stayed in his job.
