Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

3. Related Party Transactions

a.   Transactions with ThinkPets Inc. (formerly known as Zoasis Corporation)

On February 1, 2012, we acquired 100% interest in ThinkPets, Inc., for $21 million, payable by delivery of 473,389 shares of VCA common stock and $10.5 million in cash. The number of shares of VCA common stock were determined based on the daily volume weighted average closing sales price of the VCA common stock for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the acquisition. At the time of the acquisition, Bob Antin, our CEO and Chairman of the Board, owned 54% of the common stock of ThinkPets, and served as a director of ThinkPets, and Art Antin, our Chief Operating Officer, owned 8% of the common stock of ThinkPets.

b.  Related Party Vendors

Frank Reddick joined our company as a director in February 2002 and is a partner in the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP (“Akin”). Akin provided legal services to us during 2012, 2011 and 2010. The amount paid by our company to Akin for these legal services was approximately $551,000, $1.6 million and $2.3 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

c.    Transactions with VetSource

In 2006, we entered into a pharmacy distribution agreement with Strategic Pharmaceutical Solutions, Inc. (“VetSource”) a start-up pharmacy distribution company. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement we are entitled to one representative on the VetSource Board of Directors. Under the agreement we promote the use of VetSource as the preferred provider of pharmaceutical products to VCA animal hospitals. The agreement has a five-year term and will renew for one year terms unless either party provides written notice of termination to the other party at least 120 days prior to expiration of the then current term. The amount paid by our company to VetSource for pharmaceutical products was $13.1 million, $28.2 million and $41.9 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

We own 34% of the outstanding preferred stock of VetSource.