FORM 4

[ ]     Check this box if no longer
        subject to Section 16. Form 4
        or Form 5 obligations may
        continue.  See Instruction 1(b).

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

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Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1940

1.      Name and Address of Reporting Person:
        Last: Gillespie           Street: 2761 Sullins Street
        First: Richard            City: Knoxville
        Middle: Allen             State: TN               Zip: 32919

2.      Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol: Veterinary Centers
        of America: VCAI

3.      IRS or Social Security Number of Reporting Person (Voluntary):

4.      Statement for Month/Year: 12/1996

5.      If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year):

6.      Relationship of Reporting Person to Issuer (Check all applicable):
        [X]      Director
        [ ]      10% Owner
        [ ]      Officer (give title below):
        [ ]      Other (specify below):

                                                                                                   
1. Title of Security    2. Trans-    3. Transaction    4. Securities Acquired (A)    5. Amount of    6. Ownership    7. Nature of
   (Instr. 3)              action       Code              or Disposed of (D)            Securities      Form;           Indirect
                           Date         (Instr. 8)        (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)           Beneficially    Direct (D)      Beneficial
                           (Month/                                       Owned at End    or Indirect     Ownership
                           Day/         Code    V         Amt.  (A) or   Price          (Instr. 3       (I)             (Instr. 4)
                           Year)                                (D)                      and 4)         (Instr. 4)

Common Stock                12-13-96     P     2,000      A     13.50    12,000          D
Common Stock                12-9-96      P     2,325      A     10.625   14,325          D



                                    TABLE I -- NON-DERIVATIVE SECURITIES ACQUIRED, DISPOSED OF, OR BENEFICIALLY OWNED


PAGE 1


                                                                                         
1.Title     2.Conver-   3.Trans-   4.Trans-    5.No. of   6.Date Exer-   7.Title and   8.Price   9.No. of  10.Owner-   11.Nature
  of          sion or     action     action      Deriv-     cisable        Amt. of       of        Deriv-     ship        of In-
  Deri-       Exercise    Date       Code        ative      and Ex-        Underly-      Deri-     ative      Form        direct
  vative      Price of    (Month/    (Instr.8)   Securi-    piration       ing Secur-    vative    Securi-    of Deri-    Benefi-
  Security    Deriva-     Day/                   ties Ac-   Date (Month/   ities         Security  ties       vative      cial
  (Instr.3)   tive        Year)                  quired     Day/Year)      (Instr.3      (Instr.5) Benefi-    Security:   Owner-
              Security                           (A) or                    and 4)                  cially     Direct(D)   ship
                                                 Disposed                                          Owned      or Indi-    (Instr.
                                                 of (D)                                            at End     rect(I)     4)
                                                 (Instr.3                                          of Mth.    (Instr.4)
                                                 4, and 5)                                         (Instr.4)
                                                             
                                    Code   V     (A)   (D)  Date  Expira-  Title  Amt or
                                                            Exer- tion            No. of
                                                            cis   Date            Shares
                                                            able


                                      TABLE II -- DERIVATIVE SECURITIES ACQUIRED, DISPOSED OF, OR BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                                                   (E.G., PUTS, CALLS, WARRANTS, OPTIONS, CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES)




Explanation of Responses:


** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute
   Federal Criminal Violations.
   See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).


/s/ Richard Allen Gillispie                                  1/7/97
- ---------------------------                                  ------
**Signature of Reporting Person                              Date

Note:   File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed.
        If space provided is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

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