HGTV stars: Pet sitter had dog cremated 'without our consent'

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(NewsNation) — The stars of HGTV's "Divided by Design" say their dog died and was cremated "without our consent" by a dog sitter over the summer.

In a joint Instagram post Tuesday, interior designers Ray and Eilyn Jimenez said their 12-year-old Shih Tzu, Aria, died while under the care of a pet sitter on Aug. 29. They said they had hired the pet sitter through the Rover app.

"When we returned home two days later, the sitter came to our door crying, saying Aria 'passed peacefully in her sleep,'" the post said. "She told us a 'vet friend named Nicole' had confirmed it and even texted us under that name, claiming Aria had died from a heart attack."

That story, the couple claims, is entirely "fabricated."

The couple said cremation records showed Aria's body was taken to be cremated the same day she died by the sitter's partner.

"When the cremation center staff asked what happened, the partner admitted Aria had been killed by a larger dog," the post claimed. "They described visible trauma: her scalp detached, one eye bulging — injuries impossible to confuse with a peaceful passing."

The Jimenezes also said the sitter was never in Miami, where they and their dogs live, but was away at a jiu-jitsu tournament. The sitter's partner instead watched Aria and allegedly brought larger, unapproved dogs around Aria.

The couple added a disclaimer to their post stipulating that everything they'd shared was "supported by documented evidence, personal communications, and publicly available material, including booking records, screenshots, and timestamps.”

In a statement to People magazine, Rover said its 24/7 Trust and Safety team is investigating Aria's death. The sitter watching her has been deactivated from the platform.

"We stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation should they become involved. Our team has been in contact with Mrs. Jimenez to offer her support during this challenging time," Rover said.

It is unclear if the pair has taken the case to police yet.