VCA Antech, Inc., Helps Bring New ``Instructional Heart'' to UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

Business Wire, Feb 26, 2004

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers/Education Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2004

VCA Antech, Inc. (Nasdaq:WOOF), has pledged $455,000 to help build a new, 55,000-square-foot Veterinary Medicine Instructional Facility that will become the "instructional heart" of a modernized and expanded veterinary campus being constructed for the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The generous gift will help finish and name two auditoriums on the main floor of the facility, a classroom complex designed to replace cramped, aging facilities located throughout the UC Davis campus. Construction of the $27 million building is scheduled to begin in Spring 2004, with completion anticipated in late 2005.

"We at VCA Animal Hospitals and Antech Diagnostics are pleased to support the new facility, which will help UC Davis to provide the highest quality training environment for future generations of veterinary students and practitioners," said Art Antin, chief operating officer, VCA Antech, Inc.

State and university funds will pay for basic building construction. In addition, the school is raising $2.5 million in private support to provide special purpose rooms and facility upgrades that will enhance teaching programs and prepare for anticipated growth in class size and faculty.

Encompassing more than 55,000 square feet, the Veterinary Medicine Instructional Facility will be used by students, alumni and practitioners for large-scale lectures, classroom discussions, computer learning, study sessions, alumni gatherings, student volunteer activities and continuing education conferences.

"This key classroom facility will help to co-locate the school's teaching facilities as recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association's Council on Education during our accreditation review in 1998," said Bennie I. Osburn, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. "Once this building is completed, students and faculty will be able to interact and exchange ideas much more efficiently. We are grateful that, by supporting the instructional heart of our future teaching activities, VCA Antech has contributed significantly to our educational mission," added Osburn.

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine conducts teaching, research and service activities statewide to benefit animal, human and environmental health.

VCA Antech, Inc., operates the largest network of freestanding, full-service animal hospitals across the country and employs more than 800 qualified veterinarians at 240 animal hospitals. Offering a full range of general medical and surgical services for companion animals, as well as specialized treatments including advanced diagnostic services, VCA Animal Hospitals is dedicated to the provision of compassionate and comprehensive veterinary care. VCA also operates the largest network of veterinary-exclusive clinical laboratories in the nation, performing over 60,000 daily diagnostic tests. Antech Diagnostics is dedicated to providing clients with the finest in laboratory medicine, offering daily service to over 13,000 animal hospitals, zoos, biotechnology firms, governmental agencies, and specialty practices throughout the United States.

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