Funeral home owner dumped thousands of pets’ remains in landfill, PA officials say
A Pennsylvania funeral home owner is facing several charges after officials said he improperly disposed of thousands of pets’ remains.
Patrick Vereb, owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial in Pittsburgh, is charged with theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and deceptive business practices, according to an April 28 news release from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney information for Vereb was unavailable.
Between 2021 and 2024, customers paid Vereb for burials and cremation services for their deceased pets, officials said. Vereb collected more than $650,000 in payments.
However, officials said he didn’t provide the services he promised.
Vereb disposed of many of the pets’ remains in a landfill, then gave the customers ashes from other, unknown animals, officials said.
More than 6,500 deceived pet owners were found, according to the attorney general.
”This case is disturbing, and will cause devastation and heartache for many Pennsylvanians,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “Our pets are members of our families, and this defendant betrayed and agonized pet owners who entrusted him to provide dignified services for their beloved cats and dogs.”
The attorney general set up a website for victims to “provide their contact information, share victim impact statements, and receive updates on the criminal case.”
This story was originally published April 29, 2025 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Funeral home owner dumped thousands of pets’ remains in landfill, PA officials say."
