Florida has no pet cremation consumer protection law.
The fraud cases below happened outside Florida, but they show why documentation matters. Florida animal crematories are subject to environmental requirements, while the written disclosures, chain-of-custody documentation, and remains certification proposed in Sevilla's Law (SB 58) did not become law. Families can still request those safeguards in writing.
Three Documented Cases You Need to Know
6,500 Pet Owners Defrauded — Pets Dumped in Landfills
Patrick Roy Vereb, owner of Eternity Pet Memorial in Pittsburgh, was charged after Pennsylvania investigators identified more than 6,500 affected pet owners and at least $657,517 in fees. The Attorney General alleges that families paid for private cremations but many pets were instead taken to a landfill and families received unrelated ashes. Criminal charges are allegations unless and until proven in court.
Source: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
Crematory Owner Gave Families Sand Instead of Ashes
The owner of Loving Care Pet Funeral and Cremation Services in Catonsville, Baltimore County, pleaded guilty after providing pet owners with sand and building materials instead of their pets' cremated remains. Families who had entrusted their pets' bodies had no way of knowing until they tested the contents of the urns they received.
Source: CBS Baltimore
Provider Charged $550, Never Cremated Pets
Rainbow to Heaven, a pet cremation company in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, was reported by multiple families as a scam. Pet owners paid $550 for cremation and ash jewelry services. Three months later, families had received nothing — no ashes, no updates, no contact. The company was branded a scam across local news outlets.
Source: FOX 11 Los Angeles / NBC Los Angeles
Why This Keeps Happening
Pet cremation fraud is not rare or isolated. It recurs for one reason: the industry operates almost entirely on trust, and in most states — including Florida — there is no legal requirement for providers to prove they did what they were paid to do.
Families are at their most vulnerable when they hand over their pet. They are grieving, often in shock, and making decisions quickly. They have no way to verify that a private cremation actually happened. And because DNA is destroyed during cremation, there is no reliable forensic test after the fact to confirm whose ashes you received.
In the Pennsylvania case, investigators allege that the conduct continued from 2021 through 2024 before authorities intervened, affecting more than 6,500 families. Florida still lacks the specific written-disclosure and remains-certification requirements proposed in SB 58, which is why families should request those safeguards voluntarily.
“Can I DNA test the ashes to confirm they're my pet?”
This is the most common question families ask after a cremation — and the answer is difficult. The cremation process destroys DNA. Standard DNA testing cannot be performed on cremated remains. Some specialized forensic labs have attempted analysis in high-profile cases (including Sevilla's case, which went to the University of Florida), but this is expensive, rarely conclusive, and not a practical option for most families.
This is why the protection must happen before cremation — not after. Once you hand over your pet, your ability to verify anything is severely limited. The steps below are what that protection looks like in practice.
How to Protect Yourself in Florida Right Now
Take these steps before agreeing to any service — before you sign anything, before your pet leaves your home.
Ask for a written service description
Require a written document describing exactly what type of cremation will be performed — private, partitioned, or communal. Do not accept verbal descriptions. A provider who cannot or will not provide this in writing is a provider to avoid.
Ask what 'private' means at their specific facility
The word 'private' is used inconsistently across the industry. Ask directly: 'Is my pet the only animal in the cremation chamber for the full duration?' If the answer is vague or evasive, that is a significant red flag.
Ask about chain of custody — step by step
How is your pet identified when they arrive? What tag or form stays with them? How are remains labeled after cremation? A reputable provider will answer this clearly and specifically. 'We take good care of all the animals' is not an answer.
Request written certification with returned remains
Ask whether you will receive a written document certifying that the ashes belong to your specific pet. This is what Sevilla's Law would require by statute. Providers who offer it voluntarily are operating at a higher standard.
Verify IAOPCC accreditation
The International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC) is the industry's voluntary accreditation body. Accredited members follow ethical standards around remains handling. Verify membership at iaopcc.com before choosing a provider.
Look for the Transparency Pioneer badge
Florida Pets Aftercare's Transparency Pioneer badge identifies providers who have proactively confirmed written disclosures, accurate cremation terminology, and pricing transparency — the voluntary standard Sevilla's Law would mandate by law.
If You Already Suspect Something Is Wrong
If you have already received remains and have reason to believe something is wrong, you have limited but real options:
Document everything
Photograph the returned remains. Save every contract, email, receipt, and communication with the provider. Note the weight of the ashes returned — a 60 lb dog should produce roughly 1.5–2 lbs of cremains; significant under-weight is a red flag.
File a complaint with the Florida Attorney General
Under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA), you can file a consumer complaint with the AG's office. This is the most direct civil remedy available in Florida today.
Contact the IAOPCC
If the provider claims to be IAOPCC accredited, file a complaint with the IAOPCC directly. Accredited members can lose their standing for ethics violations.
Report to SevillasLaw.com
The Sevilla family maintains a public incident tracker. Reports from families like yours are part of the documented evidence base that supports the case for legislation in Florida.
Florida Is Trying to Fix This — But the Law Hasn't Passed Yet
Florida's Sevilla's Law (SB 58)would require exactly what the cases above lacked: written service descriptions before signing, written certification with returned remains, and accurate use of terms like “private” cremation. It would create civil penalties for providers who violate these requirements.
Florida lawmakers have introduced versions of Sevilla's Law since 2020. SB 58 passed the Agriculture Committee 5–0 in November 2025 but died in Senate Judiciary on March 13, 2026. A future bill would have to be filed and pass both chambers before creating new rights.
Read the full Sevilla's Law tracker →Find a Verified Florida Provider
Our directory lists Florida pet cremation providers with published pricing, verified contact information, and Transparency Pioneer badges for providers who have proactively committed to the disclosure standards Sevilla's Law would mandate.
Find providers in your city →Sources
- Pennsylvania AG: Charges against Eternity Pet Memorial / Vereb Funeral Home — official press release and victim resources
- ABC News: Funeral director trashed 6,500 pet bodies, used fake ashes
- CBS Baltimore: Pet crematorium owner gave sand instead of ashes — pleaded guilty
- FOX 11 LA: Rainbow to Heaven pet cremation scam — families speak out
- Sevilla's Law: What SB 58 Proposed and Why It Failed — Florida Pets Aftercare legislative tracker
- How to Protect Yourself From Pet Cremation Fraud in Florida — 6-step verification guide
Prepared by FloridaPetsAftercare.com for public education. Criminal charges are allegations unless proven in court. Not legal advice. Published March 2026. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.