VCA Antech, Inc. Establishes VCA Charities to Provide Further Aid for Pets Affected by Hurricane Katrina

Business Wire, Sept 19, 2005

LOS ANGELES -- VCA Antech, Inc., the owner of the largest network of freestanding, full-service animal hospitals across the country, has established VCA Charities to provide critical financial assistance to aid pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Facilitated through charitable contributions, the immediate mission of VCA Charities is to provide funding for organizations that are assisting animals affected by the disaster, including the rescue and treatment of abandoned and neglected animals, the provision of food and supplies and facilitation of efforts to reunite lost pets with their owners. Additionally, VCA Charities will support educational and other programs promoting veterinary medicine for the treatment and prevention of cruelty to animals through grants and donations.

"We are pleased that through VCA Charities, we are able to provide immediate financial assistance in the Gulf region to aid and support the thousands of people and their pets who were impacted by the hurricane," said Bob Antin, Chairman and CEO for VCA Antech. "Establishing VCA Charities is another way we can further help in the difficult task of piecing together the lives of affected victims and their pets. In the future, VCA Charities will extend its support to benefit the safety of animals everywhere," he added.

Art Antin, Chief Operating Officer, explained, "Our Company was founded on the belief that pets are part of the family. We believe that reuniting families with their pets and assisting them to care for them is critical to the healing process and to putting families back together. In addition to this much-needed financial assistance, we will continue to support families and their pets by offering free boarding at all 375 VCA Animal Hospitals nationwide, where space is available."

Bob Antin continued, "The VCA senior management team is proud to participate in this fundraising effort and we have pledged an initial donation to start the fund. The company has also established an employee contribution program, and as an added incentive for employees to donate, VCA Antech will match the funds contributed by employees up to a total of $100,000."

Donations can be made at any local VCA Animal Hospital in the United States or by mailing a check to VCA Charities at 12401 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064-1022.

For more information about VCA, VCA Charities or to locate a nearby VCA hospital for emergency boarding assistance, please call 1-800-VCA-PETS or visit the Web site at www.vcapets.com.

VCA Antech, Inc. (Nasdaq:WOOF), operates the largest network of freestanding, full-service animal hospitals across the country and employs more than 1,400 qualified veterinarians at more than 375 animal hospitals in 38 states. VCA Animal Hospitals offer a full range of general medical and surgical services for companion animals, as well as specialized treatments including oncology, ophthalmology, cardiology and neurology. Dedicated to the provision of compassionate and comprehensive veterinary care, VCA also provides advanced diagnostic services.