The owner of a Pittsburgh funeral home was taken into custody on Monday after he allegedly embezzled over $650,000 from clients who paid for pet burial and cremation services, only to have their pets disposed of in a landfill and received the ashes of different, unidentified animals instead.
Patrick Roy Vereb, the proprietor of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial, faces numerous felony charges, including theft by deception, receiving stolen goods, and misleading business practices, as stated in a news release from Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday.
Vereb, aged 70, turned himself in on Monday afternoon and was arraigned on the allegations. He was subsequently released on his own recognizance.
Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial in Pittsburgh (Google Maps)
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Numerous veterinary practices and businesses reported that Vereb collected at least $657,517 from pet owners between 2021 and 2024, who expected a private cremation for their pets, but did not receive their actual ashes, according to the release.
Authorities identified over 6,500 victims across Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
“This case is alarming and will lead to significant pain for many Pennsylvanians,” Sunday stated. “Our pets are part of our families, and this individual betrayed pet owners who trusted him to provide respectful services for their cherished cats and dogs.”
More than 6,000 pet owners were reportedly impacted by the alleged scheme, according to authorities. (iStock)
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Eternity Pet Memorial received the pets either directly from consumers or through local veterinarians, as indicated by the attorney general’s office.
Several local animal hospitals, rescues, and funeral homes expressed their concerns on social media following the announcement.
“To all families impacted by Eternity Pet Memorial – We want to let you know that we are addressing this crisis alongside you, as some of our rescue dogs were handled by them,” Helping Hearts & Healing Tails Animal Rescue shared in a Facebook post.
Pet owners were allegedly given the ashes of a different animal after paying for services. (iStock)
The shelter described the alleged wrongdoing as “not merely a mistake” but a betrayal of trust.
“You are not alone,” shelter officials remarked. “We understand your sorrow. We share your frustration. We respect your love. Together, we will seek the truth, dignity, and justice. Love endures. And so will our pursuit for accountability.”
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Paul G. Fink Funeral Home Inc. and East Suburban Animal Hospital reassured customers that they were not affected.
“We are receiving numerous inquiries asking if we utilized Eternity Pet Memorial for our cremation services after the recent news. We want to clarify that we do not employ their services and are heartbroken to learn that someone could exploit pet owners in this manner. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this deplorable act.”
The animal hospital mentioned they had a few clients who privately utilized Vereb’s services.
Given that thousands of customers have been impacted, the attorney general’s office has set up a website to engage with victims and assist concerned residents in determining if they were affected.
Victims can submit their contact details, share their experiences, and receive updates on the criminal proceedings.
