Exhibit 4


                             Joint Filing Agreement

     This will confirm the agreement by and among all the  undersigned  that the
Statement on Schedule 13D filed on or about this date and any further amendments
thereto with respect to beneficial ownership by the undersigned of the shares of
the common stock,  $0.001 par value, per share, of VCA Antech,  Inc., a Delaware
corporation,  is being filed on behalf of each of the  undersigned in accordance
with Rule 13d-1(k)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

     The  undersigned  further agree that each party hereto is  responsible  for
timely filing of such Statement on Schedule 13D and any amendments thereto,  and
for the  completeness  and  accuracy of the  information  concerning  such party
contained  therein,  provided that no party is responsible for the  completeness
and accuracy of the  information  concerning the other party,  unless such party
knows or has  reason  to  believe  that  such  information  is  inaccurate.  The
undersigned further agree that this Agreement shall be included as an Exhibit to
such joint filing.

     This agreement may be executed in two or more  counterparts,  each of which
shall be deemed an original,  but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.

Green Equity Investors III, L.P.
By: GEI Capital III, LLC, its general partner

By:      /s/ Jonathan D. Sokoloff               Date:  2/5/03
         -----------------------------------
Name:    Jonathan D. Sokoloff
Title:   Manager


Green Equity Investors Side III, L.P.           Date:  2/5/03
By: GEI Capital III, LLC, its general partner

By:      /s/ Jonathan D. Sokoloff
         -----------------------------------
Name:    Jonathan D. Sokoloff
Title:   Manager


GEI Capital III, L.L.C.                         Date:  2/5/03

By:      /s/ Jonathan D. Sokoloff
         -----------------------------------
Name:    Jonathan D. Sokoloff
Title:   Manager


LGP Management, Inc.                            Date:  2/5/03

By:      /s/ Jonathan D. Sokoloff
         -----------------------------------
Name:    Jonathan D. Sokoloff
Title:   Vice President

Leonard Green & Partners, L.P.                  Date:  2/5/03
By: LGP Management, Inc., its General Partner

By:      /s/ Jonathan D. Sokoloff
         -----------------------------------
Name:    Jonathan D. Sokoloff
Title:   Vice President


/s/ John G. Danhakl                             Date:  2/5/03
---------------------------------------------
John G. Danhakl


/s/ Peter J. Nolan                              Date:  2/5/03
---------------------------------------------
Peter J. Nolan


/s/ John M. Baumer                              Date:  2/5/03
---------------------------------------------
John M. Baumer