About Us

Discover Quality Pet Care at Virgil Animal Hospital

Our team of dedicated pet-care professionals welcomes you to Virgil Animal Hospital, led by the skilled veterinarian Dr. Derek Nichols. We founded our ideology on the premise that every creature is unique and deserving of love, affection, and the best care possible, using this drive to provide your beloved pets with the highest standard of care. Whether you are dealing with a health issue or looking for preventive care, we are ready to assist. Call us to schedule your pet’s appointment today.

Our Vision

Bring empowerment and awareness to our community to strengthen the sacred human-animal bond.

Our Mission

We utilize our knowledge and skills to build trust and genuine relationships so that our clients have the opportunity to live the longest and healthiest lives with their beloved pets.

Meet Our Team of Dedicated Animal-lovers

Through a commitment to providing high-quality healthcare resources to pets and their loving families, our veterinary team provides Virgil households with comprehensive services, including routine examinations, vaccinations, preventative care, surgery, and more. With a philosophy based on the improvement and maintenance of your pet’s wellbeing, we consistently provide accessible, friendly services to your family. All of our staff members are loyal pet owners and devout animal enthusiasts, affording us a sincere and compassionate approach to your pets’ treatment. For all medical care needs for your beloved pets, Virgil Animal Hospital is ready to assist.

Veterinarians

Dr. Derek Nichols,

Veterinarian, DVM

Education: Ontario Veterinary College

New Owner as of January 1st, 2022

Dr. Derek Nichols was born and raised in St. Catharines. He has an undergraduate degree in Zoology from the University of Guelph and graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2011. Dr. Derek returned to the Niagara region after graduation, where he has been practicing ever since.

He is a dedicated and passionate professional who loves surgery and assisting his furry friends while they are under his exceptional care. Building genuine and trusting relationships with his patients and their families is Dr. Derek’s number one priority. Additionally, he prioritizes continuing education in order to stay current on the most up-to-date medical practices and treatments.

Dr. Derek resides in the town of Virgil with his wife, Stephanie and their three boys, three cats, and two dogs. In his spare time, he can usually be found at the rink helping coach his sons’ hockey teams. He also enjoys playing hockey with his friends, waterskiing and relaxing by the lake in cottage country with his family.

Dr. Destiny Locking,

Veterinarian, DVM

After 21 years of practicing veterinary medicine in the Niagara Region, Dr. Destiny Locking is bringing her experience and enthusiasm to Virgil Animal Hospital. With a passion for the human-animal bond, Dr. Destiny loves every bit of her job – whether it’s playing doctor to furry patients or engaging in a heartfelt conversation with their humans.

Dr. Destiny’s professional interests include internal medicine and dermatology – she can deliver a personal touch thanks to her own dog’s battle with severe allergies. She’s also all about preventative and palliative care because she believes every pet deserves to live their best life ever!

At home, Dr. Destiny is happily married to her high school sweet heart and together they’ve raised a son who’s so passionate about rowing, he might just row across the Atlantic someday. They also share their home with Milo, a Boston Terrier/French Bulldog mix whose primary job is to keep everyone entertained with his ball-throwing marathons and endless antics.

When she’s not busy saving lives or laughing at Milo’s misadventures, Dr. Destiny enjoys gardening and volunteering to help the homeless. In short, if there’s a way to make the world a better place or add a bit of joy to someone’s day, Dr. Destiny is there – probably with a smile and a wagging tail.

She’s thrilled to start this new chapter at Virgil Animal Hospital, where she’ll be blending her love for pets and people with her passion for medicine to ensure every visit is a little less “ruff” and a lot more rewarding!

Dr. Ron Mergl,

Veterinarian, BSc, DVM, MSc

In Honour of the Founder of Virgil Animal Hospital:

Hometown: Niagara-On-The-Lake

Dr. Ron Mergl had the idea to build a new hospital in Virgil and spent two years looking for the right site. Then, he and his wife, Dr. June Mergl, spent another two years building it and filling it with top-of-the-line equipment and staff to best serve the needs of the pets that were to walk through the doors. The result was a stunning new veterinary hospital that took off rapidly. Dr. Ron was very excited when Virgil Animal Hospital opened in November of 2019 and was looking forward to many years of service to the pets of Niagara.

Unfortunately, that was not to be. Sadly, Dr. Ron passed away in 2020 from a brain tumour. Born in Niagara, Dr. Ron Mergl graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1985 and practiced for over 36 years, always in Niagara.

He was also a generous supporter of the community with his philanthropic and volunteer work, and through the years, he gave much time, energy and financial resources to many charities and organizations too numerous to list. In 2015, Dr. Mergl was recognized by the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association with the Award of Merit. This award is presented to a veterinarian for outstanding veterinary service to both the local and global community. He leaves behind his wife, Dr. June, his three sons, and many beloved animals.

We miss you, Dr. Ron! Thank you for all you have done.

Angela

Office Manager

After working many years in human medicine, I decided I needed a change and applied to a few different veterinary clinics in the area. After being hired at Virgil Animal Hospital, I quickly learned how passionate I am about veterinary medicine and I wish I had made the switch earlier! My background in customer service and management has been very beneficial in ensuring the smooth operation of the clinic and making sure our clients feel heard and appreciated. I have a dog Patrick, whom many of our clients have met when he pops his head out from under my desk, as well as two bossy cats, Grace Kelly and Fred Astaire.
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Sarah

Veterinary Assistant

Sarah started her career in vet medicine in 2004 after discovering a love of working with animals. She did her high school co-op placement in a clinic and knew it was the career for her. She has worked in many different clinics over the years, which brings a wealth of knowledge to us here at Virgil Animal Hospital. She currently lives with her beautiful family in Niagara Falls with her crazy dog Tia and her three crazy cats Isabelle, Miss and Juno.
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Joel

Registered Veterinary Technician

Born and raised in the Niagara region, Joel knew from an early age he wanted to work with animals. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Brock University in 2010 and then graduated from Ridgetown College Veterinary Technology Program in June of 2012. He became a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) with the OAVT in November of that year. He has been working in small animal practice since and continues to educate himself, taking a special interest in radiography, animal dentistry, canine behaviour and anesthesia. He also has a certification in basic dog obedience training. Joel lives in Beamsville with his wife Michelle, their two children, and their dog Daisy. When not in the clinic Joel enjoys spending time with his family, watching football, hockey, movies and working out.
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Tricia

Registered Veterinary Technician

Trish has always had compassion and empathy towards animals at a young age. She started her career after a high school co-op at a local small animal hospital in her hometown. She attended St. Clair College and graduated in 2002. Later that year she took the VTNE and became a Registered Veterinary Technician. She has been working in various small animal practices since. In 2021 she took a short break and graduated from TriOS College and obtained her diploma with distinction from the pharmacy assistant program. She soon returned to Veterinary Medicine where she belongs. She has a special interest in nursing, laboratory work and pharmacology. She is also certified through the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical care in CPR- Basic and Advanced life support. She resides in St. Catharines with her husband and cat, Archie.
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Camryn

Client Care Representative

Camryn has always known she wanted to work with animals. While enrolled in the Biological Science program at Guelph University, she worked with raptors for Wild Ontario and The Raptors in British Columbia. While she is new to the veterinary medicine world, she hopes to gain valuable experience to attain her goal of becoming a veterinarian. She lives in St. Catharines with her bunny Wilbur and enjoys spending time bird-watching.
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