PA Funeral Director Dumped Thousands Of Dead Pets At Landfill: AG

PITTSBURGH, PA — A Pittsburgh funeral home owner allegedly took money from people to cremate their deceased pets, instead dumped the pets' bodies in local landfills and returned the ashes of unknown animals to the animal owners.

Patrick Vereb, the owner of Vereb Funeral Homes and Eternity Pet Memorial in Hazelwood and Harrison, is accused of stealing more than $650,000 from customers who paid for cremations, burials, returns of ashes and other animal-related services, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Monday. The alleged offenses occurred between 2021 and 2024.

Sunday said an extensive investigation identified more than 6,500 victims from Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, and Westmoreland counties in Western Pennsylvania.

”This case is disturbing, and will cause devastation and heartache for many Pennsylvanians,” Sunday said in a statement. “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."

Sunday's office has launched a website for victims to provide their contact information, share victim impact statement and receive updates on the criminal case. The website will also help people determine if they are victims in this case.