Poppy Bilderbeck
The owner of an animal funeral service business has been charged after allegedly deceiving owners over cremating their pets charging over $650,000 for services.
Eternity Pet Memorials in Pittsburgh - owned by Patrick Roy Vereb - offered pet owners services including the burial or cremation of their animals.
However, the business has since been accused of lying to multiple customers between the years 2021 to 2024 - alleging telling various owners it was cremating their pets, but not actually fulfilling the agreement, reportedly rinsing owners of a total of over $650,000.
Rather than cremating their pets like agreed, it's alleged the animal funeral practice instead ditched the beloved passed away pets elsewhere and presented owners with the ashes of other animals.
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On April 28, the 70-year-old was charged with deceptive business practices and theft by deception alongside improper disposal of thousands of dogs and cats.
A statement on the discovery was released online via Pennsylvania Attorney General David W. Sunday, Jr.'s site.
It reveals the Office of Attorney General's investigation into the animal funeral service revealed Vereb 'took money in exchange for private cremation services'.
However, instead of cremating the owners' pets, it's reported Veren '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 worked with the Office of Attorney General to confirm that Vereb collected at least $657,517 in fees from pet owners who were promised a private cremation for their pet, but did not receive the actual ashes of their pet," the office adds.
And it's since detailed who may've been impacted by the horrifying case.
The Attorney General's Office states it determined the victims in the case 'were 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 adds.
The Office of the Attorney General has since launched a website where anyone concerned they may've been a victim can determine whether they definitely are and where victims can reach out, share impact statements and receive updates on the criminal case.
Attorney General Sunday branded the case 'disturbing,' reflecting on the 'devastation and heartache' it'll be causing for 'many Pennsylvanians'.
He resolved: "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 have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].