Mon May 05 05:00:00 UTC 2025: **Pet Funeral Home Owner Faces Felony Charges After Allegedly Dumping Animal Remains**
**Hazelwood, PA** – Patrick Vereb, 70, owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorials, is facing multiple felony charges and a class-action lawsuit after being accused of dumping the bodies of cats and dogs in landfills and providing grieving owners with false ashes. The charges allege theft of nearly $660,000 from customers between 2021 and 2024 who paid for pet cremation, burial, and return of ashes.
The allegations have devastated pet owners who trusted Vereb with their beloved companions. Dr. Betsy Kennon, president of the board of Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley, entrusted the cremation of her cat, CrackerJack, to Vereb earlier this year. She initially praised Vereb’s compassionate demeanor, but now questions the authenticity of the ashes she received. Similarly, Tami Haslett, another pet owner, expressed heartbreak at the possibility that her cat Ralphie’s remains were disposed of improperly.
An employee, Tiffany Mantzouridis, raised concerns to police regarding improper storage of pet bodies and a lack of crematory records for smaller animals, suggesting Vereb may have been using leftover ashes from larger animals to fulfill smaller cremation orders.
Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley, which utilized Vereb’s services, is now searching for a new cremation provider. The investigation continues, leaving many pet owners grappling with the emotional and financial consequences of Vereb’s alleged actions. Vereb’s attorney could not be reached for comment.
First Piper 