Funeral Home Director Charged with Pet Cremation Fraud

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania — A funeral home director has been charged after allegedly discarding the bodies of thousands of pets and providing bereaved owners with ashes from other animals instead. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the charges against Jacob Vereb, owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial, on Monday.

Prosecutors say Vereb collected over $650,000 in fees for cremation, burial, and other services for pets between 2021 and 2024. However, he reportedly disposed of many animals in landfills and delivered ashes from unidentified pets to grieving owners.

“Vereb took money in exchange for private cremation services, then disposed of many of the pets at a landfill,” officials said in a statement. The investigation identified more than 6,500 victims from Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.

Attorney General Sunday described the case as “disturbing,” stressing the heartache it caused for many Pennsylvanians. “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,” he said.

To assist victims, the Attorney General’s Office has launched a website where affected individuals can provide their contact information, share impact statements, and receive updates on the case. Sunday noted that almost a dozen veterinary practices collaborated with the state to substantiate that Vereb raked in at least $657,517 from pet owners, who believed they would be receiving their own pet’s ashes.

Vereb, 70, has been charged with felony counts of theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and deceptive business practices. After surrendering to authorities Monday afternoon, he was arraigned and released on his own recognizance. The investigation remains ongoing.