The proprietor of a pet funeral service company is facing charges following accusations of misleading pet owners regarding the cremation of their animals, amassing over $650,000 for these services.
Patrick Roy Vereb, the owner of Eternity Pet Memorials located in Pittsburgh, provided services to pet owners, which included the burial or cremation of their pets.
However, allegations have surfaced claiming that between 2021 and 2024, the business misled several customers by falsely asserting that it had cremated their pets, while in reality, the agreed services were not fulfilled. Reports suggest that this fraudulent activity resulted in owners being scammed out of more than $650,000.
Instead of performing the promised cremations, it is alleged that the business disposed of the deceased pets elsewhere and gave the owners ashes that were not from their pets but from other animals.
On April 28, the 70-year-old was formally charged with deceptive business practices, theft by deception, and improper disposal of numerous dogs and cats.
A statement regarding this matter was published online through Pennsylvania Attorney General David W. Sunday, Jr.’s official website.
The investigation by the Office of Attorney General into the pet funeral service established that Vereb “took money in exchange for private cremation services”.
Rather than carrying out the cremations, it was found that Vereb “disposed of many of the pets at a landfill and provided customers with ashes of other, unknown animals”.
“Nearly a dozen veterinary practices and businesses collaborated with the Office of Attorney General to establish that Vereb collected at least $657,517 in fees from pet owners who were assured a private cremation for their pet, yet did not receive the actual ashes of their pet,” the office states.
The details of those likely affected by this distressing incident have been disclosed.
The Attorney General’s Office identified the victims as “walk-in and direct-pay clients of Eternity Pet Memorials” as well as “pet owners from 20 veterinarians/businesses”.
“An extensive investigation by the Office of Attorney General has identified more than 6,500 victims from Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, and Westmoreland counties,” it further elaborates.
A website has been set up by the Office of the Attorney General for individuals who suspect they may have been affected, allowing them to confirm their victim status, share their impact statements, and get updates on the legal proceedings.
Attorney General Sunday described the case as ‘disturbing,’ acknowledging the ‘devastation and heartache’ it is causing for ‘many Pennsylvanians’.
He concluded: “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.
“I commend our investigative team for a comprehensive review of voluminous records which uncovered this long-running pattern of theft and deception.”
If you are dealing with a loss and need to talk to someone confidentially, you can contact GrieveWell at (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].