HGTV‘s “Divided by Design” stars Eilyn and Ray Jimenez have accused a dog sitter of lying to them about the details of their pet’s sudden passing—and cremating the animal without their consent in an apparent attempt to conceal its true cause of death.
Eilyn, 36, and Ray, 37, took to Instagram to blast their Miami-based pet sitter, who they revealed was hired via the dog-sitting app, Rover, alleging that she “fabricated” a story about how the animal had suddenly died while in her care.
“On August 29, 2025, while we were away, our 12-year-old Shih Tzu, Aria, died. When we returned home two days later, the sitter came to our door crying, saying Aria ‘passed peacefully in her sleep,'” the couple said in a joint Instagram post.
They claim that the sitter told them that a vet friend had confirmed Aria’s cause of death as a heart attack—adding that they even received a text from this person verifying the sitter’s story, although they suggested that the sitter had actually sent the message using a different number and name in order to cover her tracks.
“Every part of that story was fabricated,” they further alleged—revealing that they later learned from cremation records that Aria’s body had been taken in for cremation by the sitter’s partner who asked the facility to “rush” the process.
When the HGTV stars asked the crematorium for more information, they claimed that the sitter’s partner admitted that Aria was “killed by a larger dog.”
“They described visible trauma: her scalp detached, one eye bulging—injuries impossible to confuse with a peaceful passing. They cremated Aria without our consent—erasing evidence and concealing what happened,” the post continued.
The Jimenezes further allege that the sitter they hired didn’t actually stay with their dog at all, instead alleging that she traveled from Florida to Las Vegas in order to compete in a jiu-jitsu tournament, leaving Aria in the care of her partner.
“The sitter was never even in Miami. She was in Las Vegas, competing in a jiu-jitsu tournament, while our dog was left with her partner and around bigger dogs we never approved,” they claimed.
In the months since, the couple noted that they have given the sitter every opportunity to come clean; however, she has refused to reveal the truth about Aria’s death.
“Mistakes can happen, but fabricating a story this elaborate to avoid accountability is not a mistake—it’s deception. Aria deserved better. All we want is the truth, and accountability for the life that was lost,” they added.
At the end of their post, the couple shared a “disclaimer,” penning, “The information shared here is supported by documented evidence, personal communications, and publicly available material, including booking records, screenshots, and timestamps.
“All statements reflect our direct experience and verified documentation. This post is not intended to harass, threaten, or defame any individual or business, but to seek transparency and accountability for the events surrounding the death of our dog, Aria.”
After the couple announced the news of their pup’s death, a representative for Rover told E! News that they “can only imagine the heartbreak Aria’s family is going through.”
“Upon learning of this incident, Rover’s 24/7 Trust & Safety team conducted a thorough investigation into Aria’s passing. The sitter involved has been deactivated from our platform without the option to appeal, meaning she cannot communicate or book new stays with pet parents via Rover,” they added.
The Jimenezes later confirmed to TMZ that Rover had fired the dog sitter in question—and offered them $1,000 in compensation for the loss of their dog.
The company’s rep also revealed that they had been in “contact” with the HGTV pros, adding, “We stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation should they become involved. Safety is a top priority at Rover, and we are taking Aria’s passing extremely seriously.”
TMZ also reported that the pet sitter had been kicked off her jiu-jitsu team, Fight Sports Club in Miami, which told the outlet: “We are very sad and deeply sorry for this situation.
“We want to make it clear that we have no involvement or responsibility for anyone’s personal life or business outside the academy. Fight Sports stands for truth, values, and integrity, and we will always take action when something goes against those principles.”
