Exhibit 99.1

        VCA Antech, Inc. Announces Proposed Refinancing of Senior Credit
        Facility and a Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation for 9.875%
                       Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2009


    LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2005--VCA Antech
(NASDAQ:WOOF) announced today that it proposes to enter into a new
senior credit facility providing for up to $425.0 million in term
loans and a $75.0 million revolving facility. The new facility is
intended to refinance the $220.3 million of total outstanding senior
term F notes and to provide the financing for a tender offer and
consent solicitation for any and all of the outstanding $170.0 million
principal amount of 9.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 of Vicar
Operating, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of VCA. The proposed new
senior credit facility will replace the existing term F notes with new
senior term loans in an amount up to $425.0 million. If the existing
term F notes are refinanced, and the tender offer is consummated, we
expect to incur debt retirement costs in the second quarter of 2005
related to the write-off of deferred financing costs and other related
expenses with respect to both the refinancing of the senior term F
notes, and the purchase of the senior subordinated notes. Other than
the interest rate, the terms and conditions of the new term loans are
expected to be substantially similar to the existing senior term F
notes. The tender offer is contingent on the satisfaction of several
conditions, including the receipt of sufficient funds from the
anticipated proceeds of the new senior credit facility.
    Vicar Operating, Inc. has commenced an offer to purchase for cash
any and all of its $170.0 million in outstanding principal amount of
9.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009. Vicar Operating, Inc. also
is soliciting consents from the holders of the notes to approve
amendments to the indenture under which the notes were issued.
    Holders who validly tender notes and deliver consents prior to
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 29, 2005 will be eligible to
receive the total consideration, which includes a consent payment of
$30.00 per $1,000 principal amount of notes. Holders who validly
tender notes after April 29, 2005 but prior to 12:01 a.m., New York
City time, on May 17, 2005, will be eligible to receive the tender
consideration, which is the total consideration less the consent
payment. In addition, holders who validly tender and do not withdraw
their notes in the tender offer will receive accrued and unpaid
interest from the last interest payment date up to, but not including,
the date payment is made for the notes.
    The total consideration will be determined by reference to a fixed
spread of 50 basis points, or 0.5%, over the yield to maturity based
on the bid side price of the U.S. Treasury 1.875% Bond due November
30, 2005, which we refer to as the tender offer yield, as measured at
2:00 p.m., New York City time, two days prior to the expiration date
of the tender offer. Assuming a settlement date of May 18, 2005 and
using the tender offer yield of 3.665% on April 18, 2005, the total
consideration, inclusive of the consent payment of $30.00, would be
$1,081.07 per $1,000 principal amount of notes.
    Acceptance of the notes tendered will occur promptly following the
expiration of the tender offer. The consummation of the tender offer
is contingent on receipt of sufficient funds from the anticipated
proceeds of the new senior credit facility, at least a majority of the
notes being validly tendered and not withdrawn, and other general
conditions described in the offer to purchase. The tender offer will
expire at 12:01 a.m., New York City time, on May 17, 2005, unless
extended or earlier terminated. The consents being solicited will
eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants and certain
events of default in the indenture governing the notes. Information
regarding the pricing, tender and delivery procedures, and conditions
of the tender offer and consent solicitation is contained in the Offer
to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated April 19, 2005
and related documents.
    Goldman, Sachs & Co. has been appointed as the exclusive dealer
manager and solicitation agent for the tender offer and consent
solicitation. Please direct any questions relating to the offer to
Goldman, Sachs & Co., toll-free at (800) 828-3182 or collect at (212)
357-3019. Global Bondholder Services Corp. has been appointed the
information agent and depositary for the tender offer and consent
solicitation. The Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation
Statement, the Consent and Letter of Transmittal, and any additional
information concerning the terms and conditions of the tender offer
and consent solicitation may be obtained by contacting Global
Bondholder Services, 65 Broadway - Suite 704, New York, New York
10006, Attn: Corporate Actions.
    This press release is not an offer to purchase, a solicitation of
an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of consents with respect to
Vicar Operating, Inc.'s 9.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009. The
tender offer and consent solicitation is being made solely by the
Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated April 19,
2005.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including our statements regarding the tender offer and entering into
a new senior credit facility. Actual results may vary substantially
from these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of
factors. Among the important factors that could cause actual results
to differ are: changes in the markets for financing, failure to
satisfy the conditions to consummate the tender offer and consent
solicitation, our ability to successfully integrate National PetCare
Centers, Inc. and Sound Technologies, Inc. into our existing
operations and achieve expected operating synergies following the
mergers; the rate of our laboratory internal revenue growth and animal
hospital same-store revenue growth; the level of direct costs and our
ability to maintain revenue at a level necessary to maintain expected
operating margins; the level of selling, general and administrative
costs; any impairment in the carrying value of our goodwill; the
effects of our recent acquisitions and our ability to effectively
manage our growth; the effects of competition; our ability to service
our debt; and general economic conditions. These and other risk
factors that could affect actual results are discussed in our periodic
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
our Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and the
reader is directed to these statements for a further discussion of
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those in the forward-looking statements.

    VCA Antech owns, operates and manages the largest networks of
freestanding veterinary hospitals and veterinary-exclusive clinical
laboratories in the country.


    CONTACT: VCA Antech, Inc.
             Tomas Fuller, 310-571-6505