VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA INC
SC 13G/A, 1997-02-12
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

             INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1 AND 13d-2
                  UNDER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                             (Amendment No. 1)*


                        Veterinary Centers of America, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                                 Common Stock
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                  925514101
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)



- -----------------------------

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).


                        (Continued on following page(s))
                                Page 1 of 8 Pages

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CUSIP No. 925514101                  13G              Page  2  of  8  Pages   
- ----------------------                               ---------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

               The TCW Group, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                        (a)  / /
                                                                        (b)  /X/
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3    SEC USE ONLY

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          Nevada corporation
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           NUMBER OF               5    SOLE VOTING POWER
            SHARES                                                          -0-
         BENEFICIALLY              ---------------------------------------------
           OWNED BY                6    SHARED VOTING POWER
             EACH                                                           -0-
           REPORTING               ---------------------------------------------
            PERSON                 7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             WITH                                                           -0-
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                                            -0-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                                            -0-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
     CERTAIN SHARES*
                                                                           / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
      0.0% (see response to Item 4)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
                                      HC/CO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                    *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

<PAGE>

CUSIP No. 925514101                    13G              Page  3  of  8  Pages   
- ----------------------                               ---------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

               Robert Day
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                        (a)  / /
                                                                        (b)  /X/
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3    SEC USE ONLY

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          United States Citizen
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           NUMBER OF               5    SOLE VOTING POWER
            SHARES                                                          -0-
         BENEFICIALLY              ---------------------------------------------
           OWNED BY                6    SHARED VOTING POWER
             EACH                                                           -0-
           REPORTING               ---------------------------------------------
            PERSON                 7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             WITH                                                           -0-
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                                            -0-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                                                            -0-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
     CERTAIN SHARES*
                                                                           / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
      0.0% (see response to Item 4)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*7
                                      HC/IN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                    *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

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                                                              Page 4 of 8 Pages

Item 1(a).    Name of Issuer:

              Veterinary Centers of America, Inc.

Item 1(b).    Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

              3420 Ocean Park Blvd.
              Suite 1000
              Santa Monica, CA 90405-3304
             
Item 2(a).    Name of Persons Filing:
Item 2(b).    Address of Principal Business Office:
Item 2(c).    Citizenship:

              The TCW Group, Inc.
              865 South Figueroa Street
              Los Angeles, CA 90017
              (Nevada Corporation)

              Robert Day 
              200 Park Avenue, Suite 2200
              New York, New York 10166
              (United States Citizen)

Item 2(d).    Title of Class of Securities:

              Common Stock

Item 2(e).    CUSIP Number:

              925514101


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                                                              Page 5 of 8 Pages

Item 3.       If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or
              13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a:

         (a)   [ ]  Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act:

                        Not applicable

         (b)   [ ]  Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act:

                        Not applicable

         (c)   [ ]  Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act:
                  
                        Not applicable

         (d)   [ ]  Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the
                    Investment Company Act:

                        Not applicable

         (e)   [ ]  Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the
                    Investment Advisers Act of 1940:

                        Not applicable

         (f)   [ ]  Employee Benefit Plan, Pension Fund which is subject to the
                    provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
                    1974 or Endowment Fund (SEE 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)):

                        Not applicable

         (g)   [X]  Parent Holding Company, in accordance with Rule
                    13d-1(b)(ii)(G) (SEE Item 7):

                        The TCW Group, Inc.
                        Robert Day (individual who may be deemed to control The
                             TCW Group, Inc. and other holders of the Common
                             Stock of the issuer)

         (h)   [ ]  Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(H):

                        Not applicable.


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                                                              Page 6 of 8 Pages

Item 4.       Ownership

         THE TCW GROUP, INC.

              (a)  Amount beneficially owned: -0-

              (b)  Percent of class: 0.0% 

              (c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

                   (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
                          -0-

                   (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:   none.

                   (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of:
                          -0-

                   (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
                   of: none.

         ROBERT DAY 

              (a)  Amount beneficially owned: -0-

              (b)  Percent of class: 0.0%

              (c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

                   (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
                          -0-

                   (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the
                   vote: none.

                   (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of:
                          -0-

                   (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
                   of: none.

- -------------------
The filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that 
the reporting person or any of its affiliates is, for the purposes of Section 
13(d) or 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the beneficial owner 
of any securities covered by this Schedule 13G.  In addition, the filing of 
this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that the reporting 
person or any of its affiliates is the beneficial owner of any securities 
covered by this Schedule 13G for any other purposes than Section 13(d) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

<PAGE>

                                                              Page 7 of 8 Pages

Item 5.       Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

                   Applicable.

Item 6.       Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

                   Not applicable.

Item 7.       Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
              the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.

              SEE Exhibit A.

Item 8.       Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

              Not applicable. SEE Exhibits A and B.

Item 9.       Notice of Dissolution of Group.

              Not applicable.

Item 10.      Certification.

         Because this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), the
         following certification is included:


         By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
         belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary
         course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not
         have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
         such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a
         participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect.


<PAGE>

                                                              Page 8 of 8 Pages

                                    SIGNATURE


              After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.


Dated this 12th day of February, 1997.


                                       The TCW Group, Inc.

                                                  
                                       By: /s/ Mohan V. Phansalkar 
                                          ------------------------
                                          Mohan V. Phansalkar
                                          Authorized Signatory  
                      


                                       Robert Day

                                                  
                                       By: /s/ Mohan V. Phansalkar 
                                          ------------------------
                                          Mohan V. Phansalkar
                                          Under Power of Attorney dated
                                          January 30, 1996, on File with
                                          Schedule 13G Amendment Number 1
                                          for Matrix Service Co. dated
                                          January 30, 1996.




<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A


                 RELEVANT SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT HOLDING COMPANY

PART A: TCW ENTITIES

PARENT HOLDING COMPANY:

              The TCW Group, Inc.

              Robert Day (an individual who may be deemed to control
              The TCW Group, Inc.)


RELEVANT SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN RULE 13d-1(b):

         (i)  Trust Company of the West, a California corporation and a bank as
         defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 

         (ii) TCW Asset Management Company, a California corporation and an
         Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment
         Advisers Act of 1940.
 
         (iii)     TCW Funds Management, Inc., a California corporation and an
     Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers
     Act of 1940. 

Note:         No Common Stock of Veterinary Centers of America, Inc. is held
              directly by The TCW Group, Inc.  Other than the indirect holdings
              of The TCW Group, Inc. no Common Stock of Veterinary Centers of
              America, Inc. is held directly or indirectly by Robert Day, an
              individual who may be deemed to control The TCW Group, Inc. 
     
PART B: NON TCW ENTITIES

PARENT HOLDING COMPANY:

              Robert Day (an individual who may be deemed to control the holders
              described below which are not subsidiaries of The TCW Group, Inc.)

RELEVANT SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN 
RULE 13d-1(b):

              Oakmont Corporation, a California corporation and an Investment
              Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers
              Act of 1940.

              Cypress International Partners Limited, a British Virgin Islands
              corporation and an Investment Adviser registered under
              Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.




                                       A-1



<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                             JOINT FILING AGREEMENT


              The undersigned acknowledge and agree that the foregoing 
statement on Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned and 
that all subsequent amendments to this statement on Schedule 13G shall be 
filed on behalf of each of the undersigned without the necessity of filing 
additional joint acquisition statements.  The undersigned acknowledge that 
each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for 
the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it 
contained therein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and 
accuracy of the information concerning the other, except to the extent that 
he or it knows or has reason to believe that such information is accurate.

Dated: February 12, 1997


                                       The TCW Group, Inc.

                                             
                                       By: /s/ Mohan V. Phansalkar 
                                          ------------------------
                                          Mohan V. Phansalkar
                                          Authorized Signatory 
               


                                       Robert Day

                                             
                                       By: /s/ Mohan V. Phansalkar 
                                          ------------------------
                                          Mohan V. Phansalkar
                                          Under Power of Attorney dated
                                          January 30, 1996, on File with
                                          Schedule 13G Amendment Number 1
                                          for Matrix Service Co. dated
                                          January 30, 1996.







                                     B-1




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