Tina Moore has been counting the days, for nearly a year, until former Harrison funeral director Patrick Vereb has his day in court.

Vereb, 71, of Hazelwood was charged by the state Attorney General’s Office with taking money for pet cremations and disposing of the animals in landfills.

He also is accused of giving customers ashes that weren’t from their pets, authorities said.

“Every bit of evidence points to him being guilty and also points out that he knew he was guilty yet continued his unforgivable actions,” said Moore, of Greensburg. “If he doesn’t get a strict punishment, it will be devastating.”

Vereb is scheduled for a non-jury trial Jan. 22 in Allegheny County Court before Judge Randal B. Todd. Vereb faces felony charges of theft by deception, receiving stolen property and deceptive business practices.

Moore is among about 6,500 people who entrusted Vereb, owner of Pittsburgh and Harrison funeral homes, with their pets’ aftercare. She paid to have her cats — Pickle, Daisy and LaLa — cremated by Vereb but learned that they might have been tossed into a garbage dump.

Moore is pinning hopes for a quick conviction and strong punishment on a bill passed by the state House in December.

The legislation defines pets as family members rather than property. It acknowledges the emotional bonds many people have with their pets, aligning law with societal views.

Moore hopes the bill raises the stakes in the Vereb case, although it still requires approval by the state Senate before it could be signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro.

“I’m hoping this will be helpful in deciding (Vereb’s) outcome,” she said. “I’m hoping it will help make the outcome more strict.”

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