8-K

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                               _________________

                                   Form 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT
                      PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  April 3, 1997


                      VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


         Delaware              1-10787              95-4097995
(State or Other Jurisdiction     (Commission       (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)        File Number)      Identification No.)


                     3420 Ocean Park Boulevard, Suite 1000
                        Santa Monica, California  90405
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                (310) 392-9599
                        (Registrant's Telephone Number)




ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS
          ------------

     Reference is made to the press release of Registrant, issued on April 3,
1997, which contains information meeting the requirements of this Item 5, and
which is incorporated herein by this reference.  A copy of this press release
is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.  Subsequent to the issuance of
this press release, the Registrant and certain of its officers and directors
were served with the complaint for the class action suit referenced in this
press release.




                                  SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


April 30, 1997                VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.



                              By: /s/Tomas Fuller                              
                                   --------------------------------------------
                                   Tomas W. Fuller
                                   Chief Financial Officer, 
                                   Vice President and 
                                   Assistant Secretary



                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBITS                                                    PAGE NUMBER
- --------                                                    -----------


99.1      Press Release dated April 3, 1997.

EX-99.1

HEADLINE: Veterinary Centers of America, Inc. announces securities lawsuit has
been filed

DATELINE: SANTA MONICA, Calif.

BODY:
     April 3, 1997-- Veterinary Centers of America Inc. (NMS:  VCAI) Thursday
announced that a class action suit has been filed in Los Angeles Superior Court
alleging certain claims with respect to securities fraud arising out of
transactions completed in 1996.  VCA has not been served in the action.  VCA
has not had an opportunity to review the complaint and therefore has no comment
regarding the suit at this time.  VCA has no reason to believe that any of its
directors, officers or the company has engaged in any fraudulent conduct.  VCA
owns and operates a nationwide network of veterinary hospitals and veterinary
laboratories.  The company currently provides goods and services to
approximately 9,000 animal hospitals nationwide.  In addition, VCA is a partner
of Vet's Choice, a joint venture with Heinz Pet Products, an affiliate of H.J.
Heinz Co.  (NYSE:HNZ), which markets and distributes a complete line of
specialty pet foods.

CONTACT:  Veterinary Centers of America, Inc.
          Bob Antin/Tom Fuller, 310/392-9599