Local legislators take action after pet cremation scandal

The Protection Act allows the appropriate licensing board to suspend or revoke licenses for noncompliance.

In response to disturbing allegations and criminal charges involving the mishandling of pet remains at Vereb Funeral Home in Pittsburgh, several Mon Valley and Southwestern Pennsylvania legislators are taking action.

Patrick Vereb of Vereb Funeral Homes and Eternity Pet Memorial is charged with eight counts of deceptive or fraudulent business practices, in addition to other felonies – defrauding thousands of pet owners over the years by taking money instead of giving pets dignified burials.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office said in a release in April that investigators believe there are more than 6,500 victims who paid either their veterinarians or Vereb directly to have their pets cremated or buried. Prosecutors think differently, who said Vereb took the bodies of smaller pets to a landfill and only cremated larger animals.

According to a release from the offices of state Sens. Nick Pisciottano, D-West Mifflin, Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township and several other senators and representatives, there would be new legislation establishing new standards and enforcement mechanisms for the pet cremation industry.

“Anyone with a pet knows they are a part of our family, and they deserve to be treated with dignity, including in death,” Pisciottano said in the release. “The recent charges involving the alleged mishandling of pet remains have exposed a lack of accountability. We must ensure there are standards and consequences for misconduct.”

Currently, Pennsylvania law provides no regulatory framework governing how the cremated remains of pets should be handled, according to the release.

The release states that this gap allows “bad actors to exploit grieving families with little fear of consequences,” even in cases where cremation services are paid for but never actually performed.

According to the release, creating the Companion Animal Cremation Consumer Protection Act ensures transparency and accountability in pet cremation services and requires providers to give a clear, written description of services offered.

In the Protection Act, the provider of services is required certification when remains are returned to confirm services were performed, that cremation providers must inform pet owners of their rights, to establish health and

safety standards for cremation facilities and to retain detailed records of each cremation for at least five years.

The Protection Act, if passed, grants the attorney general the authority to enforce fines ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 per violation and allows the appropriate licensing board to suspend or revoke licenses for noncompliance.

“This bill sends a clear message: if you abuse the public’s trust, there will be serious consequences,” Pisciottano added. “We must act to make sure this never happens again.”

Lawmakers have the support of local pet crematoriums, funeral homes and the International Association of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories (IAOPCC), according to the release. They also worked closely with Sunday’s office and the Department of State to align the bill with existing regulatory and enforcement frameworks.

State Sen. Rosemary Brown, R-Lackawana, Monroe, Wayne Counties, who serves as co-chair of the bicameral Animal Protection Caucus alongside Pisciottano as well as State Rep. Brandon Markosek D-Allegheny County, are also on the new legislation.

Senate Bill 950 and House Bill 1750 have garnered bipartisan support. Six members of the Senate Democratic Caucus have signed on as co-sponsors, joined by four Republican Senators, including co-prime sponsors Brown and Bartolotta.

“As a dog owner for many years, I understand the deep bond and unconditional love our animal companions give us,” Bartolotta said in the release. “This legislation is about respect and peace of mind. We owe it to every pet owner to ensure their animals are cared for properly, even after they pass. Holding pet cremation services accountable is the least we can do for those who gave us so much.”

She told the Mon Valley Independent Wednesday that pet lovers and owners are not just Democrat or Republican, and that everyone deserves to have their pet cared for when they pass away.

“I wasn’t a victim of this atrocity, and I held my breath until I could find information because I have two dear pets that passed away within the last two years,” Bartolotta said. “I cannot imagine. Everyone there was wonderful, and that’s what people need when they lose a loved one – whether they have two or four legs.”